Distribution and Partitioning of Trace Metals in Contaminated Soils near Leadville, Colorado

Abstract

Mountain meadows near Leadville, CO, were contaminated with trace metals through the deposition of hydraulically transported mine tailings in the early 1900s. A study was conducted to: (i) characterize the physical and chemical properties of contaminated soils, (ii) determine the soil depth distribution of total, organically bound, oxidebound, exchangeable, and water-soluble metals, and (iii) evaluate trace metals in forages grown in contaminated meadows. One uncontaminated and four contaminated locations in a north-south transect were studied. Total soil metals ranged from: Cu, 14 to 1200 mg kg-l; Cd, 3 to 110 mg kg-l; Pb, 46 to 49000 mg kg-~; and Zn, 44 to 12000 mg kg -a. The greatest concentrations of total metals were found either in the surface horizons or in hydraulically deposited sand layers that were buried at three locations. Copper was predominantly associated with the organic fraction at four of the five locations, while Cd, Pb, and Zn were mainly bound to Fe and Mn oxides at all locations. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in forages were significantly related to various fractions of soil metals and were found to be potentially detrimental to livestock health and plant growth.

Assessment of Bioavailability of Chromium (Cr), Vanadium (V) and Uranium (U) in Wild Plants in Siwaqa Area, Central Jordan

“…Heavy metals are absorbed in the soil, by initial fast reactions (minutes, hours), followed by slow adsorption reactions (days, years) by plants, redistributed into different chemical forms with varying bioavailability, mobility, and toxicity (Shiowatana et al, 2001). Heavy metals distribution in soils takes place as a result of mineral precipitation and dissolution, ion exchange, adsorption, aqueous complexation, biological immobilization and mobilization, and plant uptake (Levy et al, 1992). Potentially toxic elements in soils and plants may come from the bedrock itself and anthropogenic sources like solid or liquid waste deposits (Wilson and Pyatt, 2007).…”

Screening and speciation of heavy metal contaminated soil from an automobile spare-parts market

“…In a recent work by Jaradat et al (2006), 13% Pb, 44% Cu and 13% Cd were bound to the organic fraction of soils collected around a scrap yard of discarded vehicles. In an earlier work by Levy et al (1992), the complexation of humic acids with some heavy metals followed the sequence: Cu4Pb4Cd. In this current study, the sequence Pb4Cd4Cu is somewhat different.…”

Uptake of Some Toxic Elements by Wild Plants in Siwaqa Area/Central Jordan

“…Heavy metals are absorbed in the soil, by initial fast reactions (minutes, hours), followed by slow adsorption reactions (days, years) by plants, redistributed into different chemical forms with varying bioavailability, mobility, and toxicity (Shiowatana et al, 2001). Heavy metals distribution in soils take place as a result of mineral precipitation and dissolution, ion exchange, adsorption, aqueous complexation, biological immobilization and mobilization, and plant uptake (Levy et al, 1992). Potentially toxic elements in soils and plants may come from the bedrock itself and anthropogenic sources like solid or liquid waste deposits (Wilson & Pyatt, 2007).…”