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TECHNICAL REPORTS

Heavy Metals in the Environment

Potential Negative Consequences of Adding Phosphorus-Based Fertilizers to Immobilize Lead in Soil

^a Dep. of Civil Engineering, 208 Harbert Engineering Center, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL 36849
^b Dep. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN 37235
^c Environmental Sciences Div., P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Lab., Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038

^* Corresponding author (mark.barnett{at}auburn.edu).

Received for publication August 2, 2007. A study of the potential negative consequences of adding phosphate (P)-based fertilizers as amendments to immobilize lead (Pb) in contaminated soils was conducted. Lead-contaminated firing range soils also contained elevated concentrations of antimony (Sb), a common Pb hardening agent, and some arsenic (As) of unknown (possibly background) origin. After amending the soils with triple superphosphate, a relatively soluble P source, column leaching experiments revealed elevated concentrations of Sb, As, and Pb in the leachate, reflecting an initial spike in soluble Pb and a particularly dramatic increase in Sb and As mobility. Minimal As, Sb, and Pb leaching was observed during column tests performed on non-amended control soils. In vitro extractions tests were performed to assess changes in Pb, As, and Sb bioaccessibility on P amendment. Lead bioaccessibility was systematically lowered with increasing P dosage, but there was much less of an effect on As and Sb bioaccessibility than on mobility. Our results indicate that although P amendments may aid in lowering the bioaccessibility of soil-bound Pb, it may also produce an initial increase in Pb mobility and a significant release of Sb and As from the soil, dramatically increasing their mobility and to a lesser extent their bioavailability.

Abbreviations: PBET, physiologically based extraction test • SI, saturation index • TSP, triple superphosphate