title: Evaluation of chemical parameters and ecotoxicity of a soil developed on gossan following application of polyacrylates and growth of Spergularia purpurea.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical characteristics and ecotoxicity of a mine soil developed on gossan materials and amended with hydrophilic polyacrylate polymers after a growth cycle of Spergularia purpurea. Different acute bioassays (Daphnia magna immobilization; microalgae growth inhibition; germination and growth of lettuce and oat) were carried out with simulated leachates, pore water and soil samples. The germination and growth of native shrubs (Cistus ladanifer and Lavandula sampaioana) were also evaluated in the lysimeters where S. purpurea had grown. The soil had high total concentrations (g/kg) of Al (3.50-8.60), As (2.55-2.73), Cu (0.13-0.91) and Pb (4.48-6.16). However, the percentages of elements in aqueous extracts (simulating leachates, pore water, and the conditions of the rhizosphere soil) were small when compared to their total soil concentrations (less than 9% except for Na in leachates). Growth of S. purpurea and other natural colonization of plant species (Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae families) improved chemical characteristics but the application of the polyacrylate polymers contributed to a further improvement of soil quality. However, this was not sufficient to ensure the growth of a large number of shrubs despite a great germination rate. Among the several species used on the ecotoxicological assessment, the D. magna test was the only bioassay that showed a clear toxicity of soil leachates, suggesting the importance of using several ecotoxicological tests to assess the environmental risk of soil contamination and its rehabilitation. Although the studied soil can be considered contaminated taking into account the total soil concentrations of Al, As, Cu and Pb, the low concentrations of the same chemical elements in extractable solutions, that simulated the fractions really available for organisms, did not demonstrate a substantial toxic effects in the organisms and, consequently, negative impact on the environment.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Unidade de Investigação de Química Ambiental (UIQA), Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal. erika.santos@inuaf-studia.pt
authors.forename: Erika S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Maria Manuela
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Amarilis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Varennes
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Macías
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leitão
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cerejeira
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D029748:Caryophyllaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008906:Mining; D063245:Plant Development / Q000187:drug effects; D011174:Portugal; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C006903:carbopol 940
keywords: Bioassays; Leachates; Pore water; Rizosphere solution; São Domingos mine