Bioavailability of copper and zinc in mining soils

Assessment of biopiles treatment on polluted soils by the use of Eisenia andrei bioassay

A long-term case of residual pollution is studied after 20 years since the largest mining accident in Spain (the Aznalcóllar spill) happened. This pollution is manifested through a surface zoning consisting of bare soils (B0), sparsely vegetated soils (B1), and densely vegetated and recovered soils (B2). A biopiles treatment with a mixture of contaminated soils (B0 and B1) with recovered soils (B2) at 50% (w/w), and vermicompost addition (50 tons ha-1) was evaluated. To assess the effectiveness of treatments, total, water-soluble, and bioavailable fractions of the most polluting elements in the zone (Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cd, and Sb) was analyzed. To evaluate the potential risk of contamination for the ecosystem, a bioassay with earthworm Eisenia andrei was carried out. Twenty years after the accident, there are still soils where total As and Pb exceed the regulatory levels and water-soluble Zn and As exceed the toxicity guidelines. According to toxicity bioassay, weight variation and juvenile production of earthworms showed an improvement after biopiles treatment, with values that trend to be similar to those of recovered soils. The only bioaccumulated element in earthworms was Cd (BAF>1), both in polluted as in treated soils, which indicates the possible existence of exclusion mechanisms of the other pollutants by earthworms. The comparison between biopiles and polluted soils showed no significant differences for the bioaccumulation factor of trace elements, with the exception of Zn and Cu, which slightly increased after treatment. According to our results, biopiles treatment combined with vermicompost addition is a good technique for the recovery of residual contaminated areas, by the improvement of soil properties and the reduction of the potential toxicity; anyway, monitoring of soils and organisms is needed to prevent the increase of bioavailability of some potentially pollutant elements over time.

Effect of soil properties on Pb bioavailability and toxicity to the soil invertebrate Enchytraeus crypticus

The present study investigated the bioavailability and toxicity of lead to the potworm Enchytraeus crypticus in six soils with different properties. Pb partitioning between the soil solution and solid phase was affected by soil organic matter (OM) content, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and water holding capacity (WHC). After 21 d exposure, Pb bioaccumulation in the enchytraeids was positively correlated with total soil Pb concentration. Bioaccumulation was best predicted by Pb availability (CaCl₂-extractable and porewater Pb concentrations), and by the Ca concentration in pore water and the CEC of the soils. Toxicity varied greatly among soils, with LC50s and EC50_reproductions based on total Pb concentrations ranging from 246 to >3092 and from 81 to 1008 mg Pb/kg dry soil, respectively. The variation in LC50s among soils was explained by differences in CaCl₂-extractable Pb concentrations in soil and internal Pb concentrations in the animals. The differences in EC50_reproductions could be explained from the CaCl₂-extractable Pb concentrations in the soils. Although it was also correlated with CEC and porewater Ca concentration, pH_CaCl2 was the dominating factor for predicting Pb toxicity based on total soil concentrations. This study demonstrates that soil properties, such as pH, CEC and Ca concentration in pore water, significantly affected the bioavailability and toxicity of Pb and therefore should be taken into account when assessing the ecological risk of metals in contaminated soils.

The ecotoxicity of zinc and zinc-containing substances in soil with consideration of metal-moiety approaches and organometal complexes

Within Canada, screening-level assessments for chemical substances are required to determine whether the substances pose a risk to human health and/or the environment, and as appropriate, risk management strategies. In response to the volume of metal and metal-containing substances, process efficiencies were introduced using a metal-moiety approach, whereby substances that contain a common metal moiety are assessed simultaneously as a group, with the moiety of concern consisting of the metal ion. However, for certain subgroups, such as organometals or organic metal salts, the organic moiety or parent substance may be of concern, rather than simply the metal ion. To further investigate the need for such additional consideration, certain substances were evaluated: zinc (Zn)-containing inorganic (Zn chloride [ZnCl2] and Zn oxide) and organic (organometal: Zn diethyldithiocarbamate [Zn(DDC)₂ ] and organic metal salts (Zn stearate [ZnSt] and 4-chloro-2-nitrobenzenediazonium tetrachlorozincate [BCNZ]). The toxicity of the substances were assessed using plant (Trifolium pratense and Elymus lanceolatus) and soil invertebrate (Folsomia candida and Eisenia andrei) tests in a sandy soil. Effect measures were determined based on total metal and total parent analyses (for organic substances). In general, the inorganic Zn substances were less toxic than the organometals and organic metal salts, with 50% effective concentrations ranging from 11 to >5194 mg Zn kg^-1 dry soil. The data demonstrate the necessity for alternate approaches in the assessment of organo-metal complexes, with the organic moieties or parent substances warranting consideration rather than the metal ion alone. In this instance, the organometals and organic metal salts were significantly more toxic than other test substances despite their low total Zn content. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3324-3332. © 2017 Crown in the Right of Canada. Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Evaluation of remediation techniques in soils affected by residual contamination with heavy metals and arsenic

Residual soil pollution from the Aznalcóllar mine spill is still a problem in some parts of the affected area, today converted in the Guadiamar Green Corridor. Dispersed spots of polluted soils, identified by the absence of vegetation, are characterized by soil acid pH and high concentrations of As, Pb, Cu and Zn. Ex situ remediation techniques were performed with unrecovered soil samples. Landfarming, Composting and Biopiles techniques were tested in order to immobilize pollutants, to improve soil properties and to promote vegetation recovery. The effectiveness of these techniques was assessed by toxicity bioassays: Lactuca sativa L. root elongation test, Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence reduction test, soil induced respiration test, and Eisenia andrei survival and metal bioaccumulation tests. Landfarming and Composting were not effective techniques, mainly due to the poor improvement of soil properties which maintained high soluble concentrations of Zn and Cu after treatments. Biopile technique, using adjacent recovered soils in the area, was the most effective action in the reduction of soil toxicity; the improvement of soil properties and the reduction in pollutants solubility were key to improve the response of the tested organisms. Therefore, the mixture of recovered soils with polluted soils in the areas affected by residual contamination is considered a more suitable technique to reduce the residual pollution and to promote the complete soil recovery in the Guadiamar Green Corridor.

Ecotoxicity of cadmium in a soil collembolan-predatory mite food chain: Can we use the 15N labeled litter addition method to assess soil functional change?

Effects of cadmium (Cd) on predator-prey relationships and soil ecological function are poorly understood and there are few methods available to measure soil functional change. Thus, we structured a soil-dwelling food chain containing the predatory mite Hypoaspis aculeifer and its collembolan prey Folsomia candida to study the effects of Cd exposure for eight weeks in a spiked soil aged for five years. The ¹⁵N labeled litter was added as food to analyze the change in nitrogen (N) transfer content. H. aculeifer reproduction and growth and the survival and reproduction of F. candida were all negatively affected by Cd exposure, and H. aculeifer reproduction was the most sensitive parameter. The sensitivity responses of F. candida and H. aculeifer were different from those using the previous single species test. The results suggest that predator-prey interactions might influence the toxicity of Cd by predation and food restriction. Cadmium lethal body concentrations of adults and juveniles of F. candida and H. aculeifer juveniles were 500-600, 180-270 and 8-10 μg g^-1, respectively. The content of N transfer from litter to animals in the food chain decreased significantly with increasing soil Cd concentration between 100 and 400 mg kg^-1. The results suggest that the ¹⁵N labeled litter addition method is potentially useful for quantitative assessment of soil functional change for further risk assessment purposes.

Leachability, availability and bioaccessibility of Cu and Cd in a contaminated soil treated with apatite, lime and charcoal: A five-year field experiment

This study evaluated the efficiency of apatite, lime and charcoal in regulating Cu and Cd leachability (toxicity characteristic leaching and synthetic precipitation leaching procedures), availability (CaCl₂ and MgCl₂) and bioaccessibility (simplified bioaccessibility extraction test) in a heavy metal-contaminated soil. Both soil pH and soil organic carbon content were investigated during the five-year field study. The results showed that soil pH and soil organic carbon content increased with application of amendments, but decreased with time in both the control and amended plots. Moreover, the leachability, availability and bioaccessibility of Cu and Cd in amended soils all significantly decreased compared with the control, but increased over time. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that soil pH was significantly negatively correlated with the concentrations of available, leachable and bioaccessible Cu and Cd. Bioaccessible Cu and Cd were positively correlated with the concentrations of available and leachable Cu and Cd, but they were not significantly correlated with soil total Cu and total Cd. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the variability in bioaccessible Cu and Cd was well explained by MgCl₂-extractable Cu, CaCl₂-extractable Cd and pH, respectively. Although the longevity of amendments decreased with time, apatite was the most effective in decreasing the availability of Cu, compared with lime and charcoal. These findings provide valuable insights for risk management during long-term in situ immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils.

Biomarker responses of Eisenia andrei to a polymetallic gradient near a lead mining site in North Tunisia

Eisenia andrei earthworms were exposed for 7 and 14 days to six samples of soil taken from around an abandoned lead (Pb) mine and characterized by different levels of metal contamination (S6-S1, this latter being the most contaminated soil). The organisms were analyzed for metal bioaccumulation and for biological parameters as biomarkers of stress (lysosomal membrane stability; lipofuscin lysosomal content; lysosomal/cytoplasmic volume ratio) and genotoxicity (Micronucleus frequency). Chemical analysis showed the loads of Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu in the worms following exposure. Among the stress biomarkers, lysosomal membrane stability was significantly affected in the coelomocytes of the earthworms exposed already 7 days to different contaminated soils. Organisms exposed for 14 days to S1 showed in the cells of the chloragogenous tissue, a particularly relevant increase in lipofuscin, a biomarker of oxidative stress, and an increase in the lysosome/cytoplasm volume ratio, indicating stressful condition at the tissue level. Moreover, in the same conditions, a decrease in total body weight was observed. At the longer exposure time, the coelomocytes of worms exposed to S1, S2, and S3 (soils with higher metal concentrations) showed a significant increase in micronuclei (MNi) frequency. Expressions of the P21 and topoisomerase genes, which are involved in DNA repair, showed significant up-regulation in the cells of worms exposed to S1, S2, S3, S4 and to a less extend S6. This may indicate that the worms were only able to successfully reduce the level of DNA damage in S4 and S5 if considering MN frequency data. The biomarker data was integrated by the Earthworm Expert System, allowing an objective interpretation of the complex biological data and clearly defining the areas in which the presence of chemicals is toxic for the edaphic organisms.

Assessment of metal toxicity and bioavailability in metallophyte leaf litters and metalliferous soils using Eisenia fetida in a microcosm study

The leaf litters of tree species, Acacia pycnantha (Ap) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Ec), predominantly growing at an abandoned copper (Cu) mine and mine soils including controls, were assessed for determining the metal toxicity and bioavailability using earthworm species Eisenia fetida, in a microcosm. Significant reduction in body weight as well as mortality were observed when the worms were introduced into mine soil or its combination with mine Ap litter. Virtually, there were no juveniles when the worms were fed on substratum that contained mine soil or mine leaf litter. The extent of bioaccumulation was dependent on water-soluble fraction of a metal in soil. The accumulation of cadmium, lead and copper in worm tissue was significantly more in treatments that received mine soil with or without mine leaf litter. However, the tissue concentration of zinc did not differ much in earthworms irrespective of its exposure to control or contaminated samples. Mine leaf litter from Ec, a known Cu hyperaccumulator, was more hospitable to earthworm survival and juvenile than that of Ap litter. Validation of the data on bioaccumulation of metals indicated that the mine leaf litter significantly contributed to metal bioavailability. However, it was primarily the metal concentration in mine soil that was responsible for earthworm toxicity and bioavailability. Our data also indicate that detrivores like earthworm is greatly responsible for heavy metal transfer from mines into the ecosystem.

Influence of soil properties on the bioaccumulation and effects of arsenic in the earthworm Eisenia andrei

This study aimed at assessing the influence of soil properties on the uptake and toxicity effects of arsenic in the earthworm Eisenia andrei exposed for 4 weeks to seven natural soils spiked with different arsenic concentrations. Water-soluble soil concentrations (AsW) and internal As concentrations in the earthworms (AsE) were greatly different between soils. These two variables were highly correlated and were key factors in earthworm toxicity response. AsW was explained by some soil properties, such as the pH, calcium carbonate content, ionic strength, texture or oxide forms. Toxicity showed a clear variation between soils, in some cases without achieving 50 % adverse effect at the highest As concentration added (600 mg kg(-1)). Nevertheless, soil properties did not show, in general, a high relation with studied toxicity endpoints, although the high correlation with AsW could greatly reduce indirectly As bioavailability and toxicity risk for earthworms. Obtained results suggest that soil properties should be part of the criteria to establishing thresholds for contaminated soils because they will be key in controlling As availability and thus result in different degrees of toxicity.

Assessing the ecotoxicological effects of long-term contaminated mine soils on plants and earthworms: relevance of soil (total and available) and body concentrations

The interactions and relevance of the soil (total and available) concentrations, accumulation, and acute toxicity of several essential and non-essential trace elements were investigated to determine their importance in environmental soil assessment. Three plant species (T. aestivum, R. sativum, and V. sativa) and E. fetida were simultaneously exposed for 21 days to long-term contaminated soils collected from the surroundings of an abandoned pyrite mine. The soils presented different levels of As and metals, mainly Zn and Cu, and were tested at different soil concentrations [12.5, 25, 50, and 100% of contaminated soil/soil (w/w)] to increase the range of total and available soil concentrations necessary for the study. The total concentrations in the soils (of both As and metals) were better predictors of earthworm uptake than were the available concentrations. In plants, the accumulation of metals was related to the available concentrations of Zn and Cu, which could indicate that plants and earthworms accumulate elements from different pools of soil contaminants. Moreover, Zn and Cu, which are essential elements, showed controlled uptake at low concentrations. The external metal concentrations predicted earthworm mortality, whereas in plants, the effects on growth were correlated to the As and metal contents in the plants. In general, the bioaccumulation factors were lower at higher exposure levels, which implies the existence of auto-regulation in the uptake of both essential and non-essential elements by plants and earthworms.

Determining the bioavailability and toxicity of lead contamination to earthworms requires using a combination of physicochemical and biological methods

This study aimed at assessing the bioavailability and toxicity of lead to Eisenia andrei in shooting range soils representing different land uses (forest, grassland, bullet plot). Soils contained 47-2398 mg Pb/kg dry weight (dw), but also had different pH-CaCl2 (3.2-6.8) and organic matter contents (3.8-13%). Therefore artificial soils with different pH and organic matter contents and two natural soils were included as control soils. Earthworms were exposed for 28 days and toxicity and uptake of Pb were related to total, water and 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable and porewater Pb concentrations as well as to soil characteristics. Pb uptake in the earthworms linearly increased with increasing soil concentrations. At >2000 mg Pb/kg dw and pH 3.3-3.5, high earthworm mortality with significant weight loss and complete inhibition of reproduction were recorded. At <1000 mg/kg dw, earthworm reproduction was more related to differences in pH and other soil characteristics than to Pb.

Phytoscreening and phytoextraction of heavy metals at Danish polluted sites using willow and poplar trees

The main purpose of this study was to determine typical concentrations of heavy metals (HM) in wood from willows and poplars, in order to test the feasibility of phytoscreening and phytoextraction of HM. Samples were taken from one strongly, one moderately, and one slightly polluted site and from three reference sites. Wood from both tree species had similar background concentrations at 0.5 mg kg(-1) for cadmium (Cd), 1.6 mg kg(-1) for copper (Cu), 0.3 mg kg(-1) for nickel (Ni), and 25 mg kg(-1) for zinc (Zn). Concentrations of chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) were below or close to detection limit. Concentrations in wood from the highly polluted site were significantly elevated, compared to references, in particular for willow. The conclusion from these results is that tree coring could be used successfully to identify strongly heavy metal-polluted soil for Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, and that willow trees were superior to poplars, except when screening for Ni. Phytoextraction of HMs was quantified from measured concentration in wood at the most polluted site. Extraction efficiencies were best for willows and Cd, but below 0.5% over 10 years, and below 1‰ in 10 years for all other HMs.