Speciation,mobilityandbioavailabilityofsoillead.docVIP

Chaney, R.L., H.W. Mielke and S.B. Sterrett. 1989. Speciation, mobility, and bioavailability of Soil Lead. [Proc. Intern. Conf. Lead in Soils: Issues and Guidelines. B.E. Davies B.G. Wixson (eds.)]. Environ. Geochem. Health 11(Supplement):105129. Speciation, Mobility, and Bioavailability of Soil Lead Rufus L. Chaney USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Soil-Microbial Systems Laboratory, Building 318, BARC-West, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, USA. Howard W. Mielke, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70125, USA. and Susan B. Sterrett Eastern Shore Agricultural Experiment Station, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Painter, Virginia, 23420, USA ABSTRACT The contamination of urban soils by Pb is a persistent source of risk to children. Pb concentration increases as soil particle size decreases, and smaller particles are more easily moved into homes to become Pb-rich housedust, and onto hands where mouthing behaviour allows children to ingest soil particles. We have evaluated the roles that chemical speciation of soil Pb and bioavailability of Pb in ingested soils play in risk of soil Pb to children. Nearly all forms of Pb pollution [automotive PbClBr and PbSO4; mining PbS and PbCO3; paint PbCO3(Pb(OH)2 and PbCrO4] are transformed by soil chemical and microbiological processes into adsorbed soil Pb. Soils have a high capacity to adsorb Pb on to surfaces of hydrous Fe oxide and organic matter. Typical soils can hold over 10,000 mg Pb/kg in short term adsorption experiments, and larger amounts of Pb in longer studies. Crystalline PbSO4 added to a moist soil was quickly transformed to non-crystalline materials. A fundamental property of Pb adsorption by soils is the increase in concentration of Pb in the equilibrium solution phase as soil Pb concentration increases. The adsorption fits the common Langmiur adsorption isotherm. Ingested soil enters the stomach and the adsorbed Pb is solubilized by the pH