Heavy metals in forest soils: Speciation, mobility and risk assessment. Chapter 6 // Heavy metal contamination of soil: Problems and remedies / I. Ahmad, S. Hayat, J. Pitchel (Eds.)книга
Место издания:Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd New Delhi
Объём:
52 страниц
ISBN:81-204-1681-3
Аннотация:This chapter reviews the available literature about the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in contaminated soils in view of environmental risk assessment. The effects of heavy metal contamination on the functioning of soil microorganisms are discussed. The study is focused on heavy metal levels and microbial characteristics in forest soils (Kola Peninsula, Russia), which are heavily polluted by aerial emissions from the nickel-processing industry for several decades. Pathways of heavy metal transformation in soils, the speciation and the distribution of metals between the soil solids and solution are analysed. The most significant factors controlling metal concentration in soil solutions are organic matter (both solid phase and dissolved) and porewater pH. The composition and functioning of soil microbial communities in podzols along the gradient of Ni and Cu contamination is studied by CLPP and other techniques. The conclusion is that the forest soils in boreal region are rather sensitive to metal contamination as adverse effects can be observed already at comparatively low concentrations of contaminants.