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Long-term use of biosolids as organic fertilizers in agricultural soils: potentially toxic elements occurrence and mobility

The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) may hinder a more widespread application of biosolids in agriculture. At present, the European Directive 86/278/CEE limit the total concentrations of seven metals (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd and Hg) in agricultural soils and in sewage sludges used as fertilizers but it has not taken into consideration the potential impacts of other emerging micropollutants that may be present in the biosolids as well as their mobility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation and mobility of 13 elements (including regulated metals and other inorganic species) in agricultural soils repeatedly amended with biosolids for 15 years. Firstly, three digestions programs using different acid mixtures were tested to evaluate the most accurate and efficient method for analysis of soil and sludge. Results demonstrated that sewage sludge application increased concentrations of Pb and Hg in soil, but values did not exceed the quality standard established by legislation. In addition, other elements (As, Co, Sb, Ag, Se and Mn) that at present are not regulated by the Spanish and European directives were identified in the sewage sludge, and significant differences were found between Ag content in soils amended with biosolids in comparison with control soils. This fact can be related to the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in consumer products due to their antibacterial properties. Results from the leaching tests show up that, in general, the mobility degree for both regulated and non-regulated elements in soils amended with biosolids was quite low (<10 %)

This work was supported by the Spanish National Research Programmes (Project ref. CGL2010-22168-C03-01 and Project ref. CGL2013-48802-C3-2-R)

Springer Verlag

Manager: Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Espanya)
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Espanya)
Author: Marguí Grabulosa, Eva
Iglesias Juncà, Mònica
Camps, F.
Sala, Lluís
Hidalgo Muñoz, Manuela
Date: 2016 March 1
Abstract: The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) may hinder a more widespread application of biosolids in agriculture. At present, the European Directive 86/278/CEE limit the total concentrations of seven metals (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd and Hg) in agricultural soils and in sewage sludges used as fertilizers but it has not taken into consideration the potential impacts of other emerging micropollutants that may be present in the biosolids as well as their mobility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation and mobility of 13 elements (including regulated metals and other inorganic species) in agricultural soils repeatedly amended with biosolids for 15 years. Firstly, three digestions programs using different acid mixtures were tested to evaluate the most accurate and efficient method for analysis of soil and sludge. Results demonstrated that sewage sludge application increased concentrations of Pb and Hg in soil, but values did not exceed the quality standard established by legislation. In addition, other elements (As, Co, Sb, Ag, Se and Mn) that at present are not regulated by the Spanish and European directives were identified in the sewage sludge, and significant differences were found between Ag content in soils amended with biosolids in comparison with control soils. This fact can be related to the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in consumer products due to their antibacterial properties. Results from the leaching tests show up that, in general, the mobility degree for both regulated and non-regulated elements in soils amended with biosolids was quite low (<10 %)
This work was supported by the Spanish National Research Programmes (Project ref. CGL2010-22168-C03-01 and Project ref. CGL2013-48802-C3-2-R)
Format: application/pdf
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/13126
Language: eng
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Collection: info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s11356-015-5618-9
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/0944-1344
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1614-7499
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN//CGL2010-22168-C03-01/ES/APLICACION DE AGUA NO CONVENCIONAL (TRATADA-DESALADA) Y FANGOS PROCEDENTES DE DEPURADORAS URBANAS Y SU IMPACTO EN EL MEDIO ACUIFERO Y SUELOS. ESTUDIOS DE CAMPO Y LABORATORIO/
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO//CGL2013-48802-C3-2-R/ES/EVALUACION DE LOS EFECTOS DEL USO DE AGUAS NO CONVENCIONALES EN LA ZONA NO SATURADA Y SATURADA. ENFOQUE MULTIDISCIPLINAR/
Rights: Tots els drets reservats
Subject: Llots de depuradora
Sewage sludge
Sòls -- Anàlisi
Soils -- Analysis
Sòls -- Aspectes ambientals
Soils -- Environmental aspects
Adobs orgànics
Organic fertilizers
Title: Long-term use of biosolids as organic fertilizers in agricultural soils: potentially toxic elements occurrence and mobility
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: DUGiDocs

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