Volatilization and degradation of soil-applied dimethylselenide

Role of organic amendments on enhanced bioremediation of heavy metal(loid) contaminated soils

As land application becomes one of the important waste utilization and disposal practices, soil is increasingly being seen as a major source of metal(loid)s reaching food chain, mainly through plant uptake and animal transfer. With greater public awareness of the implications of contaminated soils on human and animal health there has been increasing interest in developing technologies to remediate contaminated sites. Bioremediation is a natural process which relies on soil microorganisms and higher plants to alter metal(loid) bioavailability and can be enhanced by addition of organic amendments to soils. Large quantities of organic amendments, such as manure compost, biosolid and municipal solid wastes are used as a source of nutrients and also as a conditioner to improve the physical properties and fertility of soils. These organic amendments that are low in metal(loid)s can be used as a sink for reducing the bioavailability of metal(loid)s in contaminated soils and sediments through their effect on the adsorption, complexation, reduction and volatilization of metal(loid)s. This review examines the mechanisms for the enhanced bioremediation of metal(loid)s by organic amendments and discusses the practical implications in relation to sequestration and bioavailability of metal(loid)s in soils.

Microfungal alkylation and volatilization of selenium adsorbed by goethite

Selenium adsorbed in the oxyanionic form by Fe-oxides like goethite is considered of benefit for long-term stabilization of (79)Se under near field conditions of radionuclide waste disposal sites. However, microbe-mediated volatilization of the uranium fission product (79)Se has not yet been considered for risk assessment based on the use of the water-solid distribution coefficient K(D). We have performed incubation experiments in a ternary system selenium-microbe-goethite and show that mycobiota including the common black microfungi genera Alternaria alternata are capable of volatilizing the Se even if immobilized by goethite. The microfungi were incubated in a standardized nutrient broth suspension with 10 g L(-1) of the oxide target under defined conditions. Volatile organic selenium (VOSe) species formed in the head space of the culture flasks were sampled and measured directly by a cryotrapping cryofocusing gas chromatographic system coupled with ICP-MS detection (CT-CF-GC-ICP-MS). Alkylated VOSe species were found at the tens to hundreds ng m(-3) levels dominated by dimethyl selenide (DMSe) and dimethyl diselenide (DMDSe). The total amount of DMSe released into the 80-mL headspace volume within the 21 days of incubation was up to 1.12 +/- 0.17 nmol and 0.48 +/- 0.12 nmol for systems without and with goethite amendment, respectively. Alkylation rates of up to 0.1 mumol Se per day and g biomass cannot be neglected as a potential fission product mobilization pathway, unless the inherent radioactivity is proven to prevent any such microbial activity on the long-term. Otherwise it may lead to an onsite accumulation of (79)Se through evapoconcentration in the enclosed underground caverns.

Risk indicator for agricultural inputs of trace elements to Canadian soils

Trace elements (TEs) are universally present in environmental media, including soil, but agriculture uses some materials that have increased TE concentrations. Some TEs (e.g., Cu, Se, and Zn) are added to animal feeds to ensure animal health. Similarly, TEs are present in micronutrient fertilizers. In the case of phosphate fertilizers, some TEs (e.g., Cd) may be inadvertently elevated because of the source rock used in the manufacturing. The key question for agriculture is "After decades of use, could these TE additions result in the deterioration of soil quality?" An early warning would allow the development of best management practices to slow or reverse this trend. This paper discusses a model that estimates future TE concentrations for the 2780 land area polygons composing essentially all of the agricultural land in Canada. The development of the model is discussed, as are various metrics to express the risk related to TE accumulation. The elements As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn are considered, with inputs from the atmosphere, fertilizers, manures, and municipal biosolids. In many cases, steady-state concentrations could be toxic, but steady state is far in the future. In 100 yr, the soil concentrations (Century soil concentrations) are estimated to be up to threefold higher than present background, an impact even if not a problematic impact. The geographic distribution reflects agricultural intensity. Contributions from micronutrient fertilizers are perhaps the most uncertain due to the limited data available on their use.