Relation between solid phase speciation and oral/lung bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s polluted soils in inhabited area: Contribution of synchrotron-based experiment

The presence of contaminated sites/soils in or near cities can pose significant risks to public health. The city of Viviez (France) was taken in reference site bears significant industrial responsibility, particularly in zinc metallurgy, with the presence of a now rehabilitated smelter. This has led to soil contamination by zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd), with concentrations reaching up to 4856 mg kg-1, 1739 mg kg-1, 195 mg kg-1, and 110 mg kg-1, respectively. The aim of this study is to comprehend the contamination patterns of the site post-rehabilitation, the geochemical behavior of each element, and their speciation (analyzed through BCR, XRD, and XANES) in relation to associated health risks due to metals accessibility for oral ingestion and inhalation by the local population. The findings revealed that elements inducing health risks were not necessarily those with the highest metal contents. All results are discussed in terms of the relationship between element speciation, stability of bearing phases, and their behavior in different media. XANES is an important tool to determine and estimate the Pb-bearing phases in garden soils, as well as the As speciation, which consist of Pb-goethite, anglesite, and Pb-humate, with variations in proportions (the main phases being 66 %, 12 % and 22 % for Pb-goethite, anglesite, and Pb-humate, respectively) whereas As-bearing phase are As(V)-rich ferrihydrite-like. A new aspect lies in the detailed characterization of solid phases before and after bioaccessibility tests, to qualify and quantify the bearing phases involved in the mobility of metallic elements to understand the bioaccessibility behavior. Ultimately, the health risk associated with exposure to inhabitants, in terms of particle ingestion and inhalation, was assessed. Only ingestion-related risk was deemed unacceptable due to the levels of As and Pb.

Distribution of sedimentary mercury off Svalbard, European Arctic

The European Arctic, including the Svalbard archipelago, receives mercury loads due to long range atmospheric transport, local contamination, melting of glaciers and as a result of bedrock weathering. Few studies have been devoted to the contamination history and sources of sedimentary mercury in the Svalbard area. This knowledge gap is addressed in this study. Concentrations of total mercury (10-80ng/g), fractions of mercury differing with affinity to the sediment matrix (88-97% refractory, 3-12% mobile), organic and methyl mercury (100-500pg/g) were measured in surface and subsurface sediments in the Spitsbergen fjords and in the Barents Sea off Svalbard. The atmospheric mercury signal can be observed in the Barents Sea, while in the Svalbard fjords it is strongly modified by supply of mercury from natural sources that may include weathering of rocks and glaciers melting, all modified by organic matter supply. Sedimentary methyl mercury concentrations seem to be dependent on environmental factors affecting mercury methylation rather than on location of sampling stations.