Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms Tests
Shooting ranges are among the major anthropogenic sources of Pb contamination in soils worldwide. Once they have reached the soil, bullet residues can have different fates according to the characteristics of the soil environment, leading to the formation of different Pb weathering products whose sta...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Soil Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/1/25 |
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| author | Carlo Porfido Concetta Eliana Gattullo Ignazio Allegretta Nunzio Fiorentino Roberto Terzano Massimo Fagnano Matteo Spagnuolo |
| author_facet | Carlo Porfido Concetta Eliana Gattullo Ignazio Allegretta Nunzio Fiorentino Roberto Terzano Massimo Fagnano Matteo Spagnuolo |
| author_sort | Carlo Porfido |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Shooting ranges are among the major anthropogenic sources of Pb contamination in soils worldwide. Once they have reached the soil, bullet residues can have different fates according to the characteristics of the soil environment, leading to the formation of different Pb weathering products whose stability is crucial for Pb accessibility to soil biota. In this study, Pb availability in a former polluted shooting range was investigated with a combination of conventional soil analyses, X-ray microanalyses and assays with the bio-indicator earthworm <i>Eisenia andrei</i>. Chemical extractions evidenced a rather low mobility of soil Pb, while micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (µXRF) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with microanalysis (SEM-EDX) showed the formation of a weathering crust around Pb-containing bullet slivers dispersed within the soil. Such crusts consisted of a mixture of orthophosphates, including the highly insoluble Cl-pyromorphite. Furthermore, no acute toxicity effects and low Pb concentration values were measured in earthworm tissues (94.9 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>) and coelom fluids (794 µg L<sup>−1</sup>) after 28 days of exposure to the polluted soil. These results allow us to assume that most of the Pb in the shooting range soil underwent stabilization processes promoted by phosphatic fertilization. The soil was in fact used for agriculture after being dismissed for firing activities. Such a combined approach can be applied to study Pb bioavailability in other shooting ranges or, more generally, in soils heavily polluted with Pb. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:37:15Z |
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| id | doaj.art-cc2bb5da23c8434f9687671d0ac49dbf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-8789 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:37:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Soil Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc2bb5da23c8434f9687671d0ac49dbf2023-11-30T22:23:26ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892022-03-01612510.3390/soilsystems6010025Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms TestsCarlo Porfido0Concetta Eliana Gattullo1Ignazio Allegretta2Nunzio Fiorentino3Roberto Terzano4Massimo Fagnano5Matteo Spagnuolo6Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, Della Pianta e Degli Alimenti, Università Degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, Della Pianta e Degli Alimenti, Università Degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, Della Pianta e Degli Alimenti, Università Degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Agraria, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, Della Pianta e Degli Alimenti, Università Degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Agraria, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, Della Pianta e Degli Alimenti, Università Degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, ItalyShooting ranges are among the major anthropogenic sources of Pb contamination in soils worldwide. Once they have reached the soil, bullet residues can have different fates according to the characteristics of the soil environment, leading to the formation of different Pb weathering products whose stability is crucial for Pb accessibility to soil biota. In this study, Pb availability in a former polluted shooting range was investigated with a combination of conventional soil analyses, X-ray microanalyses and assays with the bio-indicator earthworm <i>Eisenia andrei</i>. Chemical extractions evidenced a rather low mobility of soil Pb, while micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (µXRF) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with microanalysis (SEM-EDX) showed the formation of a weathering crust around Pb-containing bullet slivers dispersed within the soil. Such crusts consisted of a mixture of orthophosphates, including the highly insoluble Cl-pyromorphite. Furthermore, no acute toxicity effects and low Pb concentration values were measured in earthworm tissues (94.9 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>) and coelom fluids (794 µg L<sup>−1</sup>) after 28 days of exposure to the polluted soil. These results allow us to assume that most of the Pb in the shooting range soil underwent stabilization processes promoted by phosphatic fertilization. The soil was in fact used for agriculture after being dismissed for firing activities. Such a combined approach can be applied to study Pb bioavailability in other shooting ranges or, more generally, in soils heavily polluted with Pb.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/1/25firing ranges<i>Eisenia andrei</i>micro-X-ray fluorescenceSEM-EDXPb phosphatespyromorphite |
| spellingShingle | Carlo Porfido Concetta Eliana Gattullo Ignazio Allegretta Nunzio Fiorentino Roberto Terzano Massimo Fagnano Matteo Spagnuolo Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms Tests Soil Systems firing ranges <i>Eisenia andrei</i> micro-X-ray fluorescence SEM-EDX Pb phosphates pyromorphite |
| title | Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms Tests |
| title_full | Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms Tests |
| title_fullStr | Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms Tests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms Tests |
| title_short | Investigating Lead Bioavailability in a Former Shooting Range by Soil Microanalyses and Earthworms Tests |
| title_sort | investigating lead bioavailability in a former shooting range by soil microanalyses and earthworms tests |
| topic | firing ranges <i>Eisenia andrei</i> micro-X-ray fluorescence SEM-EDX Pb phosphates pyromorphite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/1/25 |
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