Bio-Acidification and Leaching of Metals,Nitrogen, and Phosphorus from Soil and Sludge Mixtures

Soil and wastewater treatment sludge are commonly brought together in mixtures for a variety of beneficial purposes. The mixtures contain bioacidifying (i.e., sulfur-oxidizing) microorganisms that can easily be activated through providing the appropriate substrate and environmental conditions. In this study, contaminated soil and sludge mixtures were subjected to controlled bio-acidification and the impacts of the process on the partitioning of heavy metals, nitrogen, and phosphorus were examined. Three successive bio-acidification cycles resulted in significant leaching of metals from sludge. The leaching results, expressed as fraction of total mass of metals in the sludge, averaged 67% for Cr, 96% for Ni, 24% for Zn; 16% for Cu; 23% for Cd; and 96% for Pb. Bio-acidification of the sludge also converted 28 to 45% of the organic nitrogen into ammonia and increased the soluble orthophosphates fraction of total phosphorus by approximately 18 to 20%. Bio-acidification also resulted in significant metals leaching from the contaminated soils in the soil/sludge mixtures. Soil/sludge mixtures were prepared using six soil particle sizes (less than 0.075?mm to 2.38?mm) contaminated with 22,500?mg/kg Zn, 14,000?mg/kg Pb, 1500?mg/kg Cr, 9500?mg/kg Cu, 1000?mg/kg Ni, and 1000?mg/kg Cd. The addition of metals to the soil inhibited the sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms, preventing bio-acidification in the mixtures containing 4 to 50?g soil in 130?ml sludge, and considerably slowing bio-acidification in the mixtures containing 1 to 3?g soil. Using a mixture that contained 2-g soil samples, three successive bio-acidification cycles resulted in significant cumulative metals leaching results. The leaching results, expressed as percentage of the mass of metals added to the soil, were in the range of 56 to 98% for Cr, 77 to 95% for Zn, 33 to 66% for Ni, 64 to 82% for Cu, and 10 to 33% for Pb, with the higher results in each range belonging to the larger size soil particles. On the other hand, only Cr was leached in neutralized soil samples. The results confirmed the potential for inhibition of the sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms and bio-acidification in contaminated soil/sludge mixtures, and the significant impacts of bio-acidification on the mobility of metals, nitrogen, and phosphorus. In addition, the results confirmed the potential for using controlled bioacidification for removing heavy metals from contaminated soil using the indigenous sulfur oxidizing microorganisms in sludge.     

Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in soil-rice system near Xinqiao mine in Tongling city,Anhui province,China

In this study, paddy soil and rice grain samples were collected from the vicinity around the Xinqiao mine in Tongling, China to test for the presence of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in soil-rice system. Results indicated that the soil samples were primarily contaminated with Cd and Cu and followed with Zn and Pb. In rice grains, Cd, Cu, and Cr concentrations exceeded recommended guidelines. However, the regional distribution of heavy metals in rice grains and soil was inconsistent. The bioaccumulation factor of heavy metals in rice grains decreased in the order of Cd > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb. The BAF was significantly positively correlated with TCLP-extractable metals and significantly negatively correlated with soil pH. However, the relationship between soil organic matter and the BAF in rice grains was complex. Health risk assessment through rice intake showed that hazard quotients of Cu and Cd were greater than 1 and could pose a considerable non-cancer health risk to adults and children; meanwhile, Cr, Ni, and Cd could pose an unacceptable cancer risk. The results indicated that the government must take measures to reduce heavy metal contents in paddy soil and rice.     

刺楸年轮中重金属含量动态变化及富集特性

为探索刺楸对受污染土壤重金属的富集和修复效应, 以南京栖霞山的乡土树种刺楸及其根际周边土壤为研究对象, 截取其根基部年轮盘及根际土壤样本, 采用ICP-AES法测定年轮及土壤样本中重金属(Cu、Cd、Cr、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn)元素含量。结果表明: 栖霞山样地中的土壤受Mn、Pb和Zn污染最为严重, 存在Cu、Cd、Mn、Pb、Zn元素的高度复合污染, Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn在土壤和年轮中存在相关性, Mn和Pb则没有表现出明显的相关性; 刺楸修复受Cd、Mn、Pb、Zn污染的土壤效果并不显著, 更适用于Cr、Cu、Ni污染的土壤修复; 鉴于Cu元素含量变化特征, 刺楸也可以作为反映当地污染历史的记录载体; 刺楸年轮中的重金属元素之间存在交互作用, 其中Cd与Zn元素含量高度相关(r=0.984, p<0.01), 在刺楸年轮吸收重金属元素的过程中, Cu与Cd、Cr、Mn、Zn元素具有协同作用, Mn元素对其他元素有一定的拮抗作用。     

Heavy metal contamination in vegetables grown around peri-urban and urban-industrial clusters in Ghaziabad,India

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils resulting from rapid industrialization and urbanization is of great concern because of potential health risk due to dietary intake of contaminated vegetables. The present study aims to evaluate the status of heavy metals contamination of agricultural soils and food crops around an urban-industrial region in India. Transfer factor values of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni from soil to vegetable was estimated. The mean heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg) in agricultural soils (Cu: 17.8, Cr: 27.3, Pb: 29.8, Cd: 0.43, Zn: 87, Mn: 306.6, Fe: 16984, and Ni: 53.8) were within allowable concentrations for Indian agricultural soil. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni in crops/vegetables exceeded the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization safe limits. Relative orders of transfer of metals from soil to edible parts of the crops/vegetables were Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cr. The enrichment factors of heavy metals in soil indicated minor to moderately severe enrichment for Pb, Cd, and Ni; minor to moderate enrichment for Zn; no enrichment to minor enrichment for Mn; and no enrichment to moderate enrichment for Cu at different sites. Ecological risk index of soil showed considerable contamination in one of the wastewater irrigated sites.     

Heavy Metals (Cd,Cu, Ni,Pb, and Zn) Fractionation in River Sediments,Hamedan, Western Iran

Five heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in river sediments from Abshineh River, Hamedan, western Iran, were fractionated by a sequential extraction procedure. Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn existed in sediments mainly in residual fraction (mean 92%, 86%, 77%, and 65%, respectively), whereas Cd occurred mostly as organic matter (mean 41%) and exchangeable (mean 25%) fractions. The mean percent of mobile fraction of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in contaminated sediments was 25, 13, 4, 24, and 10, respectively, which suggests that the mobility and bioavailability of the five metals in sediments probably decline in the following order: Cd = Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni. The metal levels were also evaluated according to the contamination factor, which revealed significant anthropogenic pollution of Cd and Pb.     

Characterization of Heavy Metal Fractions in Agricultural Soils by Sequential Extraction Procedure: The Relationship Between Soil Properties and Heavy Metal Fractions

The present research was conducted to determine heavy metals in agricultural soils from Çanakkale, Turkey, using a sequential extraction procedure (acid soluble, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) as proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the European Commission. Soil samples were taken from 12 different cultivated sites and analyzed for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations. The results revealed an order of Mn > Cd > Pb > Co > Ni > Cu > Zn > Cr for the heavy metals based on the sum of the first three fractions (acid soluble + reducible + oxidizable). The relationships between soil properties and each metal fraction were identified through Pearsons's correlation analysis. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to determine the behaviors and similarities of metals in each fraction. While Mn, Pb, and Zn exhibited subjective behaviors in the acid-soluble fraction, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, and Ni exhibited similar behaviors with each other.     

Bioaccumulation and health risks of heavy metals associated with consumption of rice grains from croplands in Northern India

The present study focused on micronutrients and nonessential toxic heavy metals quantification and their bio-concentration in soil–rice system in Haryana, India. Composite samples of rice grains and paddy fields' soil were collected, processed and analyzed for heavy metals. Nutrient and heavy metals' content of paddy fields' soil varied over a wide range, having highest Fe content followed by Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Zn > Co > Cd. Most of the metals viz. Fe, Zn, Cu and Co found profusely in rice grains were essential micronutrients. Bio-concentration factors (BCFs) in rice grains were in the following order: Zn (0.11) > Co (0.10) > Cu (0.08) = Cr (0.08) > Ni (0.02) > Pb (0.011) > Cd (0.009) > Fe (0.003), indicating higher accumulation of micronutrients than non-essential toxic heavy metals. Principal component analysis revealed three factors accounting for 70% of the total variance which supported correlation among electrical conductivity (EC)-Na, EC-cation exchange capacity (CEC), CEC-Na, pH-TOC, and BCF_Cu-BCF_Zn. Health risk indices anticipated that the grains are safe for consumption as non-carcinogenic hazard quotients were less than unity for all the studied heavy metals.     

Metal accumulation and growth performance of Phaseolus vulgaris grown in fly ash amended soil

Phytoextraction of heavy metals from fly ash (FA) contaminated soil was evaluated using Phaseolus vulgaris var. T55. The results showed that electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (OC) and organic matter (OM) of different amendments decreased with the addition of FA in the soil. The level of diethylene triaminepenta acetic acid (DTPA) extractable metals increased with increase in FA amendments up to 25%. However, Cr was found below detection limit in both the amendments. The metal accumulation in the plant tissues was found in the order of Fe>Zn>Mn>Co>Ni>Pb>Cu>Cd at 25% FA. Accumulation of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu and Co was found more in the roots while Zn, Pb and Cd were more in the aerial parts.     

山东省部分水岸带土壤重金属含量及污染评价

为了解山东省水岸带土壤重金属的含量特征和污染状况,于2010年9月—10月采集了39个水岸带土壤样品,分析了土壤中Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb和Hg的含量以及土壤的pH值、粒度和有机质,采用单因子指数法、综合指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对水岸带土壤重金属污染进行了评价,并利用相关分析和聚类分析对其来源进行了初步的解析。结果表明：水岸带土壤的pH值为5.67—8.66,主要呈碱性;有机质的平均含量为9.39 g/kg,土壤粒度主要以砂粒和粉粒为主,其平均体积百分比分别为50.33%和38.48%,平均粒径为89.69 μm;Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb和Hg的平均含量为53.03 mg/kg、10.33 mg/kg、24.96 mg/kg、18.38 mg/kg、56.13 mg/kg、0.142 mg/kg、22.48 mg/kg和0.020 mg/kg。各水岸带土壤重金属的含量均符合《土壤环境质量标准》（GB15618-1995）二级标准。以山东省土壤元素背景值为评价标准,水岸带土壤重金属总体表现为轻度污染和轻微生态风险,其中Cd和Hg是主要的污染因子,其对潜在生态危害指数的平均贡献率分别为46.8% 和33.6%。洙赵新河、廖河、门楼水库和东平湖水岸带土壤重金属污染及潜在生态危害明显高于其他水源地。源解析的结果表明：水岸带土壤重金属的含量受自然源和人为源的双重影响,人为源主要包括地表径流、工业废气、垃圾和交通运输等。     

Nickel Bioremediation Potential of Bacillus thuringiensis KUNi1 and Some Environmental Factors in Nickel Removal

The present study endeavors to isolate a nickel (Ni)-resistant bacterial strain from an industrial waste–contaminated soil sample and to characterize the strain with a view to identify it and to assess its ability to remove Ni from the medium or detoxify it. The final objective is to use the strain as an agent to bioremediate Ni contamination. As an outcome, a Ni-resistant bacterial strain (KUNi1) had been isolated from such a soil that could tolerate a maximum of 7.5 and 10 mM Ni concentrations, depending on the type of medium used. The strain also showed multimetal resistance. It was found to be resistant to zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), and cadmium (Cd). However, the degree of resistance to the individual metal was variable, as determined by assessing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each metal against the strain. The order of resistance was Ni > Zn = Cu = Co > Cd. The strain removed a significant percentage (82%) of Ni from the medium during in vitro culture, whereas dead cell mass had an insignificant role in Ni removal. The quantum of Ni removal by the strain was interfered with when the other metals (Zn, Cu, Co, and Cd) were present either singly with Ni or in combination with other metals. However, the degree of interference varied with individual metal. The factors that influenced the quantum of Ni removal were ambient pH, initial cell density, and presence of other toxic metals. The strain was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis on the basis of its biochemical characteristics and 16s rDNA sequence analysis.     

Effects of Municipal Sewage Sludge Doses on the Chlorophyll Contents and Heavy Metal Concentration of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera)

The present study was conducted to assess the suitability of sewage sludge amendment (SSA) in soil for Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera (sugar beet) by evaluating the heavy metal accumulation and physiological responses of plants grown at a 10%, 25%, and 50% sewage sludge amendment rate. The sewage sludge amendment was modified by the physicochemical properties of soil, thus increasing the availability of heavy metals in the soil and consequently increasing accumulation in plant parts. Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu concentrations in roots were significantly higher in plants grown at 25% as compared to 50% SSA; however, Cr and Zn concentration was higher at 50% than 25% SSA. The concentrations of heavy metal showed a trend of Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd in roots and Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd in leaves. The only instance in which the chlorophyll content did not increase after the sewage sludge treatments was 50%. There were approximately 1.12-fold differences between the control and 50% sewage sludge application for chlorophyll content. The sewage sludge amendment led to a significant increase in Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni concentrations of the soil. The heavy metal accumulation in the soil after the treatments did not exceed the limits for the land application of sewage sludge recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The increased concentration of heavy metals in the soil due to the sewage sludge amendment led to increases in heavy metal uptake and the leaf and root concentrations of Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn in plants as compared to those grown on unamended soil. More accumulation occurred in roots and leaves than in shoots for most of the heavy metals. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Pb were more than the permissible limits of national standards in the edible portion of sugar beet grown on different sewage sludge amendment ratios. The study concludes that the sewage sludge amendment in the soil for growing sugar beet may not be a good option due to risk of contamination of Cr, Pb, and Cd.     

Distribution and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Xinzhuangzi Reclamation Soil from the Huainan Coal Mining Area,China

The contamination of coal-mine soil by heavy metals is a widespread problem. This study analyzes the heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg) found in 33 surface soil samples from Xinzhuangzi, China restored coal-mining land used as cultivated land. The results show that the selected elements were cumulative, especially for Cd. An index of geo-accumulation indicates that the soil was practically uncontaminated by Cu, Zn, Ni, and Hg, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated by Pb and Cr, and moderately to heavily contaminated by Cd. Based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ecological soil screening levels (Eco-SSLs) for Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd and the Dutch Target and Intervention Values for Cr and Hg, the plants and soil invertebrates were not likely greatly influenced by the selected metals. Although the Cd concentration was found to have no significant effect on plants and soil invertebrates, it is the only metal with a concentration significantly above that required by Chinese standards (HJ/T 332–2006) for edible agricultural products, indicating that Cd is the predominant factor that determines the use of the reclaimed coal-mining area for farmland. Thus, employing the reclaimed land as farmland may not be a good option.     

利用乙二胺四乙酸淋洗修复重金属污染的土壤及其动力学

通过室内模拟试验,采用振荡淋洗的方法研究了乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)浓度、pH、淋洗时间对重金属去除效果的影响.利用一级反应动力学模型对试验数据进行拟合,并测定了EDTA处理前后土壤中重金属形态的变化.结果表明,EDTA溶液在浓度为0.1 mol·L^-1、pH 7、淋洗时间1 d的条件下能达到对污染土壤重金属的最大去除率,去除率分别为Cd 89.14%、Pb 34.78%、Cu 14.96%、Zn 45.14%.模型拟合结果表明,Cd的质量转移系数最大,其次是Zn、Pb和Cu.说明在土壤淋洗过程中,Cd和Zn最先达到质量转移的平衡状态,然后是Pb和Cu.形态分级结果表明,EDTA能有效地去除交换态、碳酸盐结合态和氧化物结合态重金属,而对有机态和残余态部分重金属作用效果不明显.     

Concentrations and chemical forms of heavy metals in agricultural soil near the world’s largest and oldest tungsten mine located in China

Abstract

Tungsten (W) mining has taken place in Ganzhou in China for about 100 years. Such long-term W mining may release large amount of metals to soils and waters around these mines. Twenty soil samples were taken from the area around the W mines and 10 soil samples from an area much farther away. These soil samples were analysed for physicochemical properties, heavy metal content and their chemical forms. Results show that long-term W mining significantly increased both total and labile contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, but did not, or only slightly, increased the total content of Co, Cr and Ni in the soil near the mine. Average enrichment factor (EF) in the agricultural soils was 4.0, 2.4, 2.2, and 2.0 for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively. The labile fraction was dominated by the carbonate-bound fraction for Cd (54.5%) and organic matter-bound fraction for Cu (37.9%), while the major labile fractions for Pb and Zn were associated with carbonates (30.2% and 6.4%), oxides (17.9% and 10.6%) and organic matter (9.2% and 18.8%). Consequently, there is a need to be cautious about Cd in the soils contaminated by W mining.     

Fractionation of heavy metals in contaminated soils surrounding non-ferrous metals smelting area in the North China Plain

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in soil is a serious environmental problem. The risk of metals in soil is associated critically with their species. Operationally determined speciation analysis of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sb, Cd and Pb was carried out in the area of non-ferrous metals-smelting in the North China Plain, using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy after sequential chemical extraction. The average potential mobility fraction was calculated. The average potential mobility of the metals had the following order: Cd(44.7%) > Pb(29.6%) > Mn(14.8%) > Zn(12.5%) > Cu(5.9%) > Sb(5.0%) > Ni(2.1%) > Cr(0.8%). It is concluded that there is a distinct spatial heterogeneity in the concentration of heavy metals in the studied area. The results indicate that the polluting heavy metals, in particular Cd and Pb, have high potential mobility.     

Tolerance ofThiobacillus ferrooxidans to some metals

During iron oxidation,Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans) was able to tolerate high concentrations of Zn, Ni, Cu, Co, Mn and Al (more than 10 g/litre). Silver and anions of tellurium, arsenic and selenium were toxic in concentrations of 50–100 mg/litre. Molybdenum (as molybdate), at concentrations above 5 mg/litre, was lethal toT. ferrooxidans. During thiosulphate oxidation, the tolerance to Zn, Ni and Co was greatly reduced, cobalt now being at least 2000 times more toxic, and the inhibitory levels of Zn and Ni being 600 mg Zn/litre and 150 mg Ni/litre. During sulphur oxidation, the tolerance to heavy metals extended to concentrations above 5 g/litre. Adaptation to Zn, Ni or Cu during iron oxidation was found to result in increased tolerance to some of the other metals also.     

Bioleaching of Heavy Metals from Textile Sludge by Indigenous Sulfur-and-Iron-Oxidizing Microorganisms Using Elemental Sulfur and Ferrous Sulfate as Energy Sources: A Comparative Study

The present study was undertaken to investigate the potential of enriched indigenous sulfur-and-iron-oxidizing microorganisms in the bioleaching of Cu, Ni, Zn and Fe from textile sludges by using elemental sulfur and ferrous sulfate (FS), respectively, as an energy source under batch conditions. The experiments were performed with three different textile sludges (S1, S2 and S3) at initial neutral pH of the sludges procured from different parts of the country i.e., UP, Haryana and Punjab. The three sludges used were not only procured from different parts of the country but also differ in physiochemical characteristics. The extent of heavy metals solubilization in each sludge was found to be different using sulfur- and iron-oxidizing microorganisms. The results of the study indicate that sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms were found more efficient in the bioleaching process, irrespective of any sludge. The use of sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms led to higher solubilization of heavy metals and after 7 days of bioleaching about 84–96% Cu, 64–78% Ni, 81–92% Zn and 74–88% Fe were removed compared to 62–73% Cu, 62–66% Ni, 74–78% Zn and 70–78% Fe using iron-oxidizing microorganisms. This study had shown the feasibility of applying the bioleaching process to textile sludge contaminated with heavy metals. The results of the present study indicate that the bioleached sludge would be safer for land application.     

An Investigation of the Soil Property Changes and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Relation to Long-term Wastewater Irrigation in the Semi-arid Region of Iran

Concentrations and spatial distribution of Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb along two landscapes including a wastewater-irrigated area and a control area were determined to assess the impact of long-term wastewater irrigation and landscape properties on heavy metal contamination. Some disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from soil trenches and soil cores, located on three main landscape positions (upper slope, midslope, and lower slope) in northwestern Iran. The investigation showed that the mean concentration of the heavy metals followed the order Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd in the wastewater-irrigated soil and Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd in the control soils. On average, compared to similar positions in the control region, the wastewater-irrigated regions contained 3.0 (midslope) to 4.9 (lower slope), 2.7 (midslope) to 4.6 (lower slope), 3.3 (upper slope) to 4.1 (lower slope), and 1.7 (upper slope) to 2.6 (lower slope) times higher amounts of Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb, respectively. Significant positive relationships (P < 0.05) were recorded between the heavy metals concentration with <0.002 mm particle-size fraction and organic matter content, the fractions linked to runoff and soil erosion. It is believed that the two soil fractions play a crucial role in the distribution of the metals along the wastewater-irrigated landscape. Despite the significant increase of heavy metals (P < 0.05) in the wastewater-irrigated soils compared with control soils, the concentration of all evaluated metals was below the maximum accepted limits (Zn < 300 mg/kg, Cu < 100 mg/kg, Cd < 5 mg/kg, and Pb < 100 mg/kg), and grouped as “not-enriched” to “moderately-enriched” categories regarding the topsoil enrichment index. Overall, the lower slope was shown to be more contaminated with the heavy metals compared to the other positions.     

Risk assessment of heavy metal toxicity through contaminated vegetable from sewage water: Implications for populace health

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the levels of metals and metalloids in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) irrigated with city wastewater. Soil and vegetable samples from two different sites irrigated with wastewater were wet-digested and analyzed. Arsenic (As) was found higher at both sites and Cr was many-fold lower at both sampling sites. Among all heavy metals, Mn and Zn were abundant. Highest value of coefficient factor was found for Cr and the lowest for Cd. The high transfer value was recorded for Cu at site-I and for Ni at site-II. Copper and Se showed negative and significant correlations between soil and vegetable, whereas Mn, Zn, As, Cd, Cr, and Ni showed positive but non-significant correlations. Pollution load index in this vegetable was found to be higher for Cd and lower for Cu. Health risk index at site-I was in the order of As > Mn > Mo > Pb > Cd > Ni > Zn > Se > Fe > Co > Cr > Cu, whereas the same order was observed at site-II of the sampling locations. Thus, the health risks of metals through ingestion of vegetables were of great concern in the study area.     

Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of heavy metals in the soil of a construction waste landfill site

Heavy metals found in construction waste can enter soil and water bodies through surface runoff and leachate, where they represent an environmental hazard. In this study, we investigate the pollution characteristics and ecological risks of eight heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As) in the soils of an unofficial construction waste landfill site in Beijing, China. The results indicate that long-term disposal of construction waste in the dry riverbed can reduce the pH value of the soil, increase the soil organic carbon content, and affect the total amount and distribution of heavy metals. Moreover, the landfill site pollutes the external soil environment, with Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu as the characteristic pollutants. According to the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index and potential ecological risk assessment, heavy metal pollution decreases in the following order: internal soil > bottom soil > boundary soil. Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu pollution is higher in the internal region, with single heavy-metal pollution indexes (Pi) of 1.41, 1.65, 1.26, and 1.28, respectively. Conversely, the Pi for Cr is higher in boundary and bottom soils (1.91 and 1.94, respectively). Risk assessment codes indicate that Cd and Mn pose the greatest environmental risk (31.9% and 17.8%, respectively) as they have the highest effective content, bioavailability, and mobility. Thus, environmental monitoring is a necessity for these metals.