Impact of earthworms on trace element solubility in contaminated mine soils amended with green waste compost

Sizmur, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9835-7195, Palumbo-Roe, B. and Hodson, M. E. (2011) Impact of earthworms on trace element solubility in contaminated mine soils amended with green waste compost. Environmental Pollution, 159 (7). pp. 1852-1860. ISSN 0269-7491 doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.03.024

Abstract/Summary

The common practice of remediating metal contaminated mine soils with compost can reduce metal mobility and promote revegetation, but the effect of introduced or colonising earthworms on metal solubility is largely unknown. We amended soils from an As/Cu (1150 mgAs kg−1 and 362 mgCu kg−1) and Pb/Zn mine (4550 mgPb kg−1 and 908 mgZn kg−1) with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% compost and then introduced Lumbricus terrestris. Porewater was sampled and soil extracted with water to determine trace element solubility, pH and soluble organic carbon. Compost reduced Cu, Pb and Zn, but increased As solubility. Earthworms decreased water soluble Cu and As but increased Pb and Zn in porewater. The effect of the earthworms decreased with increasing compost amendment. The impact of the compost and the earthworms on metal solubility is explained by their effect on pH and soluble organic carbon and the environmental chemistry of each element.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/20799
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.envpol.2011.03.024
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	Metal; Arsenic; Lumbricus terrestris; Remediation
Publisher	Elsevier
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