Long-Term Metal-Content Changes in Soils on the Olkusz Zn–Pb Ore-Bearing Area, Poland

Gruszecka‐Kosowska, Agnieszka; Kicińska, Alicja

doi:10.1007/s41742-017-0033-3

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…Soil pollution with heavy metal is a serious problem in some regions of the world, for example, as a result of massive metal processing, as in the Upper Silesia region. The concentrations of metals measured in a current study were similar to these observed in earlier studies carried (Klimek 2012 ; Azarbad et al 2013 ; Pająk et al 2016 ; Gruszecka-Kosowska and Kicińska 2017 ). As soils can be contaminated with a mixture of metals characterized by a diverse toxicity to soil organisms, assessment overall metal pollution can be performed using toxicity index (Welp 1999).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Ant nests as a microbial hot spots in a long-term heavy metal-contaminated soils

Klimek

Poliwka-Modliborek

Grześ

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Interactions between soil fauna and soil microorganisms are not fully recognized, especially in extreme environments, such as long-term metal-polluted soils. The purpose of the study was to assess how the presence of Lasius niger ants affected soil microbial characteristics in a long-term metal-polluted area (Upper Silesia in Poland). Paired soil samples were taken from bulk soil and from ant nests and analysed for a range of soil physicochemical properties, including metal content (zinc, cadmium, and lead). Microbial analysis included soil microbial activity (soil respiration rate), microbial biomass (substrate-induced respiration rate), and bacteria catabolic properties (Biolog® ECO plates). Soil collected from ant nests was drier and was characterized by a lower content of organic matter, carbon and nitrogen contents, and also lower metal content than bulk soil. Soil microbial respiration rate was positively related to soil pH (p = 0.01) and negatively to water-soluble metal content, integrated into TIws index (p = 0.01). Soil microbial biomass was negatively related to TIws index (p = 0.04). Neither soil microbial activity and biomass nor bacteria catabolic activity and diversity indices differed between bulk soil and ant nests. Taken together, ant activity reduced soil contamination by metals in a microscale which support microbial community activity and biomass but did not affect Biolog® culturable bacteria.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Ant nests as a microbial hot spots in a long-term heavy metal-contaminated soils

Klimek

Poliwka-Modliborek

Grześ

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…As mentioned before, elevated soil pH may be attributed to the alkaline impact of sediments related to the properties of rock ores (dolomites and limestones) that are processed in the tailing process. In the case of waste deposited in landfills in the Olkusz region, the pH ranges between 7.8 and 7.9 [25]. The alkaline impact of tailing waste from the landfill clearly decreased with the distance from the facility.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Content of Zn, Cd and Pb in purple moor-grass in soils heavily contaminated with heavy metals around a zinc and lead ore tailing landfill

et al. 2018

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The paper presents concentrations and correlations between Zn, Cd and Pb in the aboveground parts of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea L.) in forest soils heavily contaminated with heavy metals around a zinc and lead ore tailing landfill at Mining & Metallurgy Enterprise “Bolesław” SA in Bukowno. Field observations have indicated that purple moor-grass, which occurs as one of the few vascular plants in locations with tailing mud, is probably a species with high adaptability to conditions in contaminated environments. The research was carried out in a network of 20 regular monitoring sites. At these sites, a detailed inventory of purple moor-grass was carried out and samples of the aboveground parts of the plants were collected from the leaves and ears and from the soil at a depth of 0-20 cm. It was found that there was no significant correlation between the concentration of heavy metals in the soils and aboveground parts of the plants in the most heavily contaminated zones. This may indicate the existence of mechanisms limiting uptake of heavy metals by this species, and therefore the need for further research in the context of its suitability for biological regeneration of tailing landfills and phytosanitary protection of adjoining areas.

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“…However, on the basis of the metal mobility, it is hard to predict the influence of the flow change along a significant reach of the Biała Przemsza River. Nevertheless, based on the existing literature, we may expect to see a tendency towards increasing amounts of metals in the most mobile, acid-extractable fraction, something which has been observed in the soil profiles of the investigated mining area over a 20 year period after the cessation of intensive dust accumulation [67]. Nevertheless, in the longer perspective of several decades, with the expected decrease in metal concentrations in the subsurface soil horizons, Zn, Cd and Pb in the region will tend to occur in more stable forms [60].…”

Section: Metal Mobility-perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 77%

Metal Mobility in a Mine-Affected Floodplain

Ciszewski

Aleksander-Kwaterczak

2020

Minerals

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The study attempted to map and predict the remobilization of metals in a floodplain which had been heavily affected by long-term Zn–Pb mining. This research, based on Zn, Cd, Pb, Ca and Fe speciation, mineralogy and the stratigraphy of sediments which had accumulated over the distance of a dozen or so km from the mine, revealed variable potential for metal mobilization. The results suggest that a drop in the water table, something to be expected after the closure of a mine, would be accompanied by a decrease in the pH of the river water and can induce the remobilization of metals associated with carbonates and exchangeable cations over the short-reach downstream of the mine. However, the mobilization of contaminants may be impeded by the alkaline, impermeable stratum of loams, which play a pivotal role in maintaining anaerobic conditions and buffering the acidity resulting from the partial degradation of sulfides. Based on the findings of the study, it can be expected that the intrinsic attenuation will limit the need for remediation works, although monitoring river water quality is recommended to determine the need for any intervention in cases where permissible quality values have been exceeded over a longer period. Results of this research can be useful as a reference for remediation works planned in other contaminated river systems experiencing water table lowering, where the mobilization of contaminants as a consequence of sediment oxidization can be expected.

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Long-Term Metal-Content Changes in Soils on the Olkusz Zn–Pb Ore-Bearing Area, Poland

Cited by 16 publications

References 23 publications

Ant nests as a microbial hot spots in a long-term heavy metal-contaminated soils

Ant nests as a microbial hot spots in a long-term heavy metal-contaminated soils

Content of Zn, Cd and Pb in purple moor-grass in soils heavily contaminated with heavy metals around a zinc and lead ore tailing landfill

Metal Mobility in a Mine-Affected Floodplain

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