Biological and chemical assessment of zinc ageing in field soils

Donner, E., Broos, K., Heemsbergen, D., Warne, M. S. J., McLaughlin, M.J., Hodson, M. E. and Nortcliff, S. (2010) Biological and chemical assessment of zinc ageing in field soils. Environmental Pollution, 158 (1). pp. 339-345. ISSN 0269-7491 doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.06.034

Abstract/Summary

As zinc (Zn) is both an essential trace element and potential toxicant, the effects of Zn fixation in soil are of practical significance. Soil samples from four field sites amended with ZnSO4 were used to investigate ageing of soluble Zn under field conditions over a 2-year period. Lability of Zn measured using 65Zn radioisotope dilution showed a significant decrease over time and hence evidence of Zn fixation in three of the four soils. However, 0.01 M CaCl2 extractions and toxicity measurements using a genetically modified lux-marked bacterial biosensor did not indicate a decrease in soluble/bioavailable Zn over time. This was attributed to the strong regulatory effect of abiotic properties such as pH on these latter measurements. These results also showed that Zn ageing occurred immediately after Zn spiking, emphasising the need to incubate freshly spiked soils before ecotoxicity assessments. Ageing effects were detected in Zn-amended field soils using 65Zn isotopic dilution as a measure of lability, but not with either CaCl2 extractions or a lux-marked bacterial biosensor.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/1693
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.envpol.2009.06.034
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Uncontrolled Keywords	Attenuation; Ageing; Isotopic dilution; Lability; Lux biosensor
Publisher	Elsevier
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item