Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Effect of biogeochemical interactions on bioaccessibility of arsenic in soils of a former smelter site in Republic of Korea

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The total concentration-based regulations for soil remediation do not consider the possible changes in bioaccessibility of remaining arsenic (As) in soils due to biogeochemical interactions after remediation. This study used As-contaminated soil and pore water samples that were collected from the rice paddy and forest/farmland located in the vicinity of a former smelter site in Republic of Korea to elucidate the changes in As bioaccessibility due to biogeochemical interactions. Bioaccessibility and chemical forms of As in soils were determined by using an in vitro method and sequential extraction, respectively, and soil microbial community was evaluated. Bioaccessibility of As in the rice paddy soil samples was higher than that in the forest/farmland soil samples. This could be attributed to relatively higher dependence of bioaccessible As in the rice paddy soils on the soil concentration of iron (Fe), aluminum, or manganese, which could lead to greater changes in bioaccessible As via reductive dissolution. The strong linear relationship (R 2 = 0.90, p value ≤0.001) between the pore water As and Fe concentrations, and the greater portion of bacterial species related to reductive dissolution of Fe oxides in the rice paddies can support the higher As bioaccessibility promoted by reductive dissolution. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the potential changes in the bioaccessible As due to biogeochemical interactions in remediation of As-contaminated soils, particularly when soils are likely to be reused under reductive dissolution-promoting conditions (e.g., flooded conditions).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arp, H. P., Lundstedt, S., Josefsson, S., Cornelissen, G., Enell, A., Allard, A. S., et al. (2014). Native oxy-PAHs, N-PACs, and PAHs in historically contaminated soils from Sweden, Belgium, and France: Their soil-porewater partitioning behavior, bioaccumulation in Enchytraeus crypticus, and bioavailability. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(19), 11187–11195.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basta, N. T., Foster, J. N., Dayton, E., Rodriguez, R. R., & Casteel, S. W. (2007). The effect of dosing vehicle on arsenic bioaccessibility in smelter-contaminated soils. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A, 42(9), 1275–1281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beesley, L., Marmiroli, M., Pagano, L., Pigoni, V., Fellet, G., Fresno, T., et al. (2013). Biochar addition to an arsenic contaminated soil increases arsenic concentrations in the pore water but reduces uptake to tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Science of the Total Environment, 454–455, 598–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradham, K. D., Scheckel, K. G., Nelson, C. M., Seales, P. E., Lee, G. E., Hughes, M. F., et al. (2011). Relative bioavailability and bioaccessibility and speciation of arsenic in contaminated soils. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(11), 1629–1634.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cave, M. R., Wragg, J., & Harrison, H. (2013). Measurement modelling and mapping of arsenic bioaccessibility in Northampton, United Kingdom. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A, 48(6), 629–640. doi:10.1080/10934529.2013.731808.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fayiga, A. O., Ma, L. Q., & Zhou, Q. (2007). Effects of plant arsenic uptake and heavy metals on arsenic distribution in an arsenic-contaminated soil. Environmental Pollution, 147(3), 737–742.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goh, K. H., & Lim, T. T. (2005). Arsenic fractionation in a fine soil fraction and influence of various anions on its mobility in the subsurface environment. Applied Geochemistry, 20(2), 229–239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International Standard Organization. (1995). ISO 11466:1995 Soil quality—Extraction of trace elements soluble in aqua regia (Vol. ISO/TC 190/SC 3). Geneva, Switzerland: International Standard Organization.

  • Jang, M., Hwang, J. S., & Choi, S. I. (2007). Sequential soil washing techniques using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide for remediating arsenic-contaminated soils in abandoned iron-ore mines. Chemosphere, 66(1), 8–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jho, E. H., Im, J., Yang, K., Kim, Y. J., & Nam, K. (2015). Changes in soil toxicity by phosphate-aided soil washing: Effect of soil characteristics, chemical forms of arsenic, and cations in washing solutions. Chemospehre, 119, 1399–1405.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juhasz, A. L., Smith, E., Weber, J., Rees, M., Rofe, A., Kuchel, T., et al. (2007a). Comparison of in vivo and in vitro methodologies for the assessment of arsenic bioavailability in contaminated soils. Chemosphere, 69(6), 961–966.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juhasz, A. L., Smith, E., Weber, J., Rees, M., Rofe, A., Kuchel, T., et al. (2007b). In vitro assessment of arsenic bioaccessibility in contaminated (anthropogenic and geogenic) soils. Chemosphere, 69(1), 69–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, M. E., Brauning, S. E., Schoof, R. A., & Ruby, M. V. (2002). Assessing oral bioavailability of metals in soil. Colombus: Battelle Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B.-K., Park, G.-Y., Jeon, E.-K., Jung, J.-M., Jung, H.-B., Ko, S.-H., et al. (2013). Field application of in situ electrokinetic remediation for As-, Cu-, and Pb-contaminated paddy soil. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 224(12), 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korea Ministry of Environment. (2009). Official test methods of soil quality (Vol. Notification No. 2009-255). Gwacheon, Korea: Korea Ministry of Environment.

  • Lovley, D. (2006). Dissimilatory Fe(III)-and Mn(IV)-reducing prokaryotes. The prokaryotes (pp. 635–658). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mandal, A., Purakayastha, T., & Patra, A. (2014). Phytoextraction of arsenic contaminated soil by Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata): Effect on soil microbiological activities. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 50(8), 1247–1252.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masscheleyn, P. H., Delaune, R. D., & Patrick, W. H. (1991). Effect of redox potential and pH on arsenic speciation and solubility in a contaminated soil. Environmental Science and Technology, 25(8), 1414–1419.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur, J., Banerjee, D., Hudson-Edwards, K., Mishra, R., Purohit, R., Ravenscroft, P., et al. (2004). Natural organic matter in sedimentary basins and its relation to arsenic in anoxic ground water: the example of West Bengal and its worldwide implications. Applied Geochemistry, 19(8), 1255–1293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meharg, A. A., & Zhao, F. J. (2012). Arsenic & rice. Berlin: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Miretzky, P., & Cirelli, A. F. (2010). Remediation of arsenic-contaminated soils by iron amendments: a review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 40(2), 93–115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Semple, K. T., Doick, K. J., Jones, K. C., Burauel, P., Craven, A., & Harms, H. (2004). Peer reviewed: defining bioavailability and bioaccessibility of contaminated soil and sediment is complicated. Environmental Science and Technology, 38(12), 228A–231A.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E., Naidu, R., Weber, J., & Juhasz, A. L. (2008). The impact of sequestration on the bioaccessibility of arsenic in long-term contaminated soils. Chemosphere, 71(4), 773–780.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Somenahally, A. C., Hollister, E. B., Loeppert, R. H., Yan, W., & Gentry, T. J. (2011). Microbial communities in rice rhizosphere altered by intermittent and continuous flooding in fields with long-term arsenic application. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 43(6), 1220–1228.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y., Minamikawa, R., Hattori, K. H., Kurishima, K., Kihou, N., & Yuita, K. (2004). Arsenic behavior in paddy fields during the cycle of flooded and non-flooded periods. Environmental Science and Technology, 38(4), 1038–1044.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsang, D. C., & Hartley, N. R. (2014). Metal distribution and spectroscopic analysis after soil washing with chelating agents and humic substances. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21(5), 3987–3995.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Udovic, M., Plavc, Z., & Lestan, D. (2007). The effect of earthworms on the fractionation, mobility and bioavailability of Pb, Zn and Cd before and after soil leaching with EDTA. Chemosphere, 70(1), 126–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US Environmental Protection Agency. (1996). Method 3052: Microwave assisted acid digestion of siliceous and organically based matrices. Washington, DC: US EPA.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hullebusch, E. D., Utomo, S., Zandvoort, M. H., & Lens, P. N. (2005). Comparison of three sequential extraction procedures to describe metal fractionation in anaerobic granular sludges. Talanta, 65(2), 549–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Violante, A., Cozzolino, V., Perelomov, L., Caporale, A., & Pigna, M. (2010). Mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals and metalloids in soil environments. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 10(3), 268–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel, W. W., Kirchbaumer, N., Prohaska, T., Stingeder, G., Lombi, E., & Adriano, D. C. (2001). Arsenic fractionation in soils using an improved sequential extraction procedure. Analytica Chimica Acta, 436(2), 309–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitacre, S. D., Basta, N. T., & Dayton, E. A. (2013). Bioaccessible and non-bioaccessible fractions of soil arsenic. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 48(6), 620–628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, W., Wang, H., Liu, R., Zhao, X., & Qu, J. (2011). Arsenic release from arsenic-bearing Fe–Mn binary oxide: Effects of Eh condition. Chemosphere, 83(7), 1020–1027.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yafa, C., & Farmer, J. G. (2006). A comparative study of acid-extractable and total digestion methods for the determination of inorganic elements in peat material by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta, 557(1–2), 296–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi, N., Nakamura, T., Dong, D., Takahashi, Y., Amachi, S., & Makino, T. (2011). Arsenic release from flooded paddy soils is influenced by speciation, Eh, pH, and iron dissolution. Chemosphere, 83(7), 925–932.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, J.-K., Barnett, M. O., Jardine, P. M., Basta, N. T., & Casteel, S. W. (2002). Adsorption, sequestration, and bioaccessibility of As(V) in soils. Environmental Science and Technology, 36(21), 4562–4569.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, Y.-G., & Rosen, B. P. (2009). Perspectives for genetic engineering for the phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated environments: from imagination to reality? Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 20(2), 220–224.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Geo-Advanced Innovative Action (GAIA) Project of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI). This research was also supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (NRF-2014R1A1A1003762). This work was also supported by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research Fund.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eun Hea Jho.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, K., Jeong, S., Jho, E.H. et al. Effect of biogeochemical interactions on bioaccessibility of arsenic in soils of a former smelter site in Republic of Korea. Environ Geochem Health 38, 1347–1354 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9800-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9800-x

Keywords

Navigation