title: Simultaneous immobilization of metals and arsenic in acidic polluted soils near a copper smelter in central Chile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acidic and metal(oid)-rich topsoils resulted after 34 years of continuous operations of a copper smelter in the Puchuncaví valley, central Chile. Currently, large-scale remediation actions for simultaneous in situ immobilization of metals and As are needed to reduce environmental risks of polluted soils. Aided phytostabilization is a cost-effective alternative, but adequate local available soil amendments have to be identified and management options have to be defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Efficacy of seashell grit (SG), biosolids (B), natural zeolite (Z), and iron-activated zeolite (AZ), either alone or in mixtures, was evaluated for reducing metal (Cu and Zn) and As solubilization in polluted soils under laboratory conditions. Perennial ryegrass was used to test phytotoxicity of experimental substrates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Soil neutralization to a pH of 6.5 with SG, with or without incorporation of AZ, significantly reduces metal (Cu and Zn) solubilization without affecting As solubilization in soil pore water; furthermore, it eliminates phytotoxicity and excessive metal(oid) accumulation in aerial plant tissues. Addition of B or Z to SG-amended soil does not further reduce metal solubilization into soil pore water, but increase As solubilization due to excessive soil neutralization (pH > 6.5); however, no significant As increase occurs in aerial plant tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simultaneous in situ immobilization of metal(oid) in acidic topsoils is possible through aided phytostabilization.
authors: Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Valeska
authors: V
authors: Cárcamo
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Bustamante
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Trangolao
authors: Luz María
authors: LM
authors: de la Fuente
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Mench
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Neaman
authors: Rosanna
authors: R
authors: Ginocchio
mesh_terms: D060105:Animal Shells / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000737:chemistry*; D002677:Chile; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005410:Flame Ionization; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008129:Lolium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008906:Mining; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D008670:Metals; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D017641:Zeolites; D003300:Copper; D001151:Arsenic