The behaviour and fate of potentially toxic elements of anthropogenic origin in the environment, as influenced by soil properties and various leaching solvents

Ing. Christopher Ash

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

The selected publications presented in this thesis were compiled as part of continuous research activities between 2011 and 2016. The studies are all connected by common subject matter; namely, the investigation of toxic metal/metalloid pollution of the environment (particularly soils), their behaviour and interactions with other compounds in soils or soil solution, such as organic acids or immobilizing amendments, and ultimately their fate, with respect to expressing toxicity toward either plant or animal. All research was conducted within the Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection at Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, as part of various grant obligations, as independent research or as a part of the thesis work. Grant providers and co-authors are acknowledged within the respective publications. During the course of the doctoral study, a central team evolved, members of which were responsible for major contributions to the initiation, consultation and development of the research, as well as the practical aspects such as sampling and analysis. Consistent primary contributors to the listed research papers are Doc. Ing. Ondřej Drábek, Ph.D., and RNDr. Václav Tejnecký, Ph.D., with project overview and thesis supervision by Prof. Dr. Ing. Luboš Borůvka. Industrialisation, and its impacts on the environment both past and present, has manifesed itself globally. Consequently, there is global evidence of elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the environment, particularly in soils and sediments, which possess reactive surfaces and therefore create a sink (and potential source) of PTE. The significance of the problem calls for greater insight and understanding of PTE in the environment, and solutions that are novel, green, and cost effective. The presented research considers a range of sources of PTE, such as recreational sources like shooting ranges (Ash et al. 2013b), PTE contamination in fruit production (Ash et al. 2012), and those occuring from industrial sources such as mining and smelting (Ash et al. 2013a; 2014; 2015, Kváčová et al. 2014). A theme that runs central to much of the work is the application of low-molecular-mass organic acids (LMMOA) in experimental research. The objective of studying LMMOA is to elucidate their role in the mobilization and redistribution of potentially toxic elements in the soil environment, particularly where PTE concentrations exceed natural background levels (Ash et al. 2016b). Furthermore, our research included the identification and testing of materials for the capture of PTE following soil washing, such as recycled shredded card, which has a high anionic charge density and alkaline properties (Ash et al. 2016a). The approach for research initiation and development considers the three main phases of toxic element contamination: source > pathway > target. Thus, by focusing on these three dynamic phases, it allowed for the development of a compilation of holistic research during the course of the Ph.D. study. Ash, C., Borůvka, L., Tejnecký, V., Šebek, O., Nikodem, A., Drábek, O. 2013a: Temporal dissolution of potentially toxic elements from silver smelting slag by synthetic environmental solutions. Journal of Environmental Management. 129, 157-163 Ash, C., Borůvka, L., Tejnecký, V., Šebek, O., Nikodem, A., Drábek, O. 2014: Potentially toxic element distribution in soils from the Ag-smelting slag of Kutná Hora: Descriptive and prediction analyses. Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 144, 328-336 Ash, C., Drábek, O., Tejnecký, V., Jehlička, J., Michon, N., Borůvka, L. 2016a: Sustainable soil washing: Shredded card filtration of potentially toxic elements after leaching from soil using organic acid solutions. Plos One. 11(2) Ash, C., Tejnecký, V., Borůvka, L., Drábek, O. 2016b: Different low-molecular-mass organic acids specifically control leaching of arsenic and lead from contaminated soil. Journal of Contaminant Hydrol

Abstract:

ogy. 187, 18-30 Ash, C., Tejnecký, V., Šebek, O., Chala, A.T., Drahota, P., Houška, J., Drábek, O. 2015: Redistribution of cadmium and lead fractions in contaminated soil samples due to experimental leaching. Geoderma. 241-242, 126-135 Ash, C., Tejnecký, V., Šebek, O., Němeček, K., Zahourová, L., Bakardjieva, P., Drahota, P., Drábek, O. 2013b: Fractionation and distribution of risk elements in soil profiles at a Czech shooting range. Plant, Soil and Environment. 59, 121-129 Ash, C., Vacek, O., Jakšik, O., Tejnecký, V., Drábek, O. 2012: Elevated soil copper contents in a Bohemian vineyard as a result of fungicide application. Soil and Water Research. 4, 151-158 Kváčová, M., Ash, C., Borůvka, L., Pavlů, L., Nikodem, A., Němeček, K., Tejnecký, V., Drábek, O. 2014: Contents of potentially toxic elements in forest soils of the Jizera Mountains region. Environmental Modeling and Assessment. 20 (3), 183-195

Keywords

forest soil, mining and smelting, potentially toxic elements

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 19. 9. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. Dr. Ing. Luboš Borůvka
• Reader: Vojtěch Ettler, externi, Radmila Milačič, externi, Tomáš Navrátil, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Doctoral programme / field:
Agricultural Specialization / Exploitation and Conservation of Natural Resources