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This study evaluates the effectiveness of remediation treatments in the long‐term (twenty years later) in one of the largest mine spills in the world, the Aznalcóllar accident. Soil recovery was carried out through the application of different rates of organic (compost and manure) and inorganic amendments (materials rich in iron oxides and calcium carbonate). Different amendment combinations were grouped in four treatments (T1 to T4) and applied in different sectors depending on the soil properties and the degree of initial contamination. To assess the degree of soil recovery, physicochemical properties, total, water‐soluble, and bioavailable concentrations of the main contaminants (Pb, As, Zn and Cu) were determined over time. Applied treatments increased pH, calcium carbonate and organic carbon content of soils, reduced electrical conductivity and decreased mobility of contaminants, indicating that remediation treatments were efficient recovering soils contaminated by potentially harmful elements. However, twenty years after the accident, total concentrations of Pb and As still exceed the intervention levels of the current regulations in certain areas. These areas are located in the sectors closest to the mine and where treatments T1 and T2 were applied. In these cases, the added doses of organic amendments, iron oxide‐rich soils, and carbonate amendments were not sufficiently effective, so the application of new treatments is recommended to complete the total recovery of the Guadiamar Green Corridor.
Rocío Pastor‐Jáuregui; Mario Paniagua‐López; Antonio Aguilar‐Garrido; Francisco Martín‐Peinado; Manuel Sierra‐Aragón. Long‐term assessment of remediation treatments applied to an area affected by a mining spill in Spain. Land Degradation & Development 2021, 32, 2481 -2492.
AMA StyleRocío Pastor‐Jáuregui, Mario Paniagua‐López, Antonio Aguilar‐Garrido, Francisco Martín‐Peinado, Manuel Sierra‐Aragón. Long‐term assessment of remediation treatments applied to an area affected by a mining spill in Spain. Land Degradation & Development. 2021; 32 (8):2481-2492.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRocío Pastor‐Jáuregui; Mario Paniagua‐López; Antonio Aguilar‐Garrido; Francisco Martín‐Peinado; Manuel Sierra‐Aragón. 2021. "Long‐term assessment of remediation treatments applied to an area affected by a mining spill in Spain." Land Degradation & Development 32, no. 8: 2481-2492.
Soil arsenic (As) pollution is still a major concern due to its high toxicity and carcinogenicity, thus, the study of decontamination techniques, as the organic amendment applications, keeps upgrading. This research evaluates the potential remediation of peat in different As-polluted soils, by assessing the decrease of As solubility and its toxicity through bioassays. Obtained reduction in As solubility by peat addition was strongly related to the increase of humic substances, providing colloids that allow the complexation of As compounds. Calcareous soils have been the least effective at buffering As pollution, with higher As concentrations and worse biological response (lower soil respiration and inhibition of lettuce germination). Non-calcareous soils showed lower As concentrations due to the higher iron content, which promotes As fixation. Although in both cases, peat addition improves the biological response, it also showed negative effects, hypothetically due to peat containing toxic polyphenolic compounds, which in the presence of carbonates appears to be concealed. Both peat dose tested (2% and 5%) decreased drastically As mobility; however, for calcareous soils, as there is no phytotoxic effect, the 5% dose is the most recommended; while for non-calcareous soils the efficient peat dose for As decontamination could be lower.
Antonio Aguilar-Garrido; Ana Romero-Freire; Minerva García-Carmona; Francisco Martín Peinado; Manuel Sierra Aragón; Francisco Martínez Garzón. Arsenic Fixation in Polluted Soils by Peat Applications. Minerals 2020, 10, 968 .
AMA StyleAntonio Aguilar-Garrido, Ana Romero-Freire, Minerva García-Carmona, Francisco Martín Peinado, Manuel Sierra Aragón, Francisco Martínez Garzón. Arsenic Fixation in Polluted Soils by Peat Applications. Minerals. 2020; 10 (11):968.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonio Aguilar-Garrido; Ana Romero-Freire; Minerva García-Carmona; Francisco Martín Peinado; Manuel Sierra Aragón; Francisco Martínez Garzón. 2020. "Arsenic Fixation in Polluted Soils by Peat Applications." Minerals 10, no. 11: 968.
This study is focused on one of the most important spills that ever happened in Europe, the Aznalcóllar’s mine spill. The extensive application of phytostabilization in the area led to the implementation of the Guadiamar Green Corridor (GGC). Soil physicochemical properties were analyzed and the total concentration of Pb, As, Zn and Cu was measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF); bioassay using Lactuca sativa L. was applied to assess potential toxicity. Two decades after the accident, some soils affected by residual contamination continue to appear in the area. According to regulatory levels, Pb and As concentrations are exceeded in around 13%and 70%, respectively, in the uppermost part of the soils (first 10 cm). The change in soil properties after bioremediation treatment positively promoted the reduction in the potential mobility of pollutants by the increase in pH, CaCO3 content and organic carbon. Anyway, the bioassay with Lactuca sativa, indicated that around 25% of the soils showed toxicity by the reduction of the root elongation in relation to the control samples. Our results indicate that monitoring of the GGC is still needed, together with the application of soil recovery measures to reduce the potential toxicity in some sectors of the affected area.
Rocío Pastor-Jáuregui; Mario Paniagua-López; Javier Martínez-Garzón; Francisco Martín-Peinado; Manuel Sierra-Aragón. Evolution of the Residual Pollution in Soils after Bioremediation Treatments. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 1006 .
AMA StyleRocío Pastor-Jáuregui, Mario Paniagua-López, Javier Martínez-Garzón, Francisco Martín-Peinado, Manuel Sierra-Aragón. Evolution of the Residual Pollution in Soils after Bioremediation Treatments. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (3):1006.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRocío Pastor-Jáuregui; Mario Paniagua-López; Javier Martínez-Garzón; Francisco Martín-Peinado; Manuel Sierra-Aragón. 2020. "Evolution of the Residual Pollution in Soils after Bioremediation Treatments." Applied Sciences 10, no. 3: 1006.
The addition of organic amendment in soils affected by residual pollution of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) is evaluated. The area was polluted twenty years ago and remediation actions were intensively applied, but evidence of pollution are still detected in some sectors. The amendment application produces significant changes in the main soil properties and modifies the mobility and availability of the pollutants. In general, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb, showed a significant reduction in soluble and exchangeable forms after the vermicompost addition (percentage of reduction ranging from 59% for soluble Pb to 95% for exchangeable Zn), both in highly (UVS) as in moderately (VS1) polluted soils. This reduction is strongly related to the rise in OC content and pH. Arsenic presented no significant reduction or even an increase in soluble forms in moderately polluted soils (VS1), where the competing effects of OC and phosphorous could be responsible for this increase. Pb also showed an increase in availability after vermicompost application, probably related to the competing effect of Mg2+ coming from the organic amendment. The less mobile forms (those extracted with oxalic-oxalate, pyrophosphate and EDTA), indicate that vermicompost application reduce medium-long term mobility to similar values of those found in less polluted soils (VS2); anyway, an increase in available forms of Pb and As was detected in some cases, indicating a potential risk of toxicity that should be monitored over time.
Manuel Sierra Aragón; Yasuo Mitsui Nakamaru; Minerva García-Carmona; Francisco Javier Martínez Garzón; Francisco José Martín Peinado. The role of organic amendment in soils affected by residual pollution of potentially harmful elements. Chemosphere 2019, 237, 124549 .
AMA StyleManuel Sierra Aragón, Yasuo Mitsui Nakamaru, Minerva García-Carmona, Francisco Javier Martínez Garzón, Francisco José Martín Peinado. The role of organic amendment in soils affected by residual pollution of potentially harmful elements. Chemosphere. 2019; 237 ():124549.
Chicago/Turabian StyleManuel Sierra Aragón; Yasuo Mitsui Nakamaru; Minerva García-Carmona; Francisco Javier Martínez Garzón; Francisco José Martín Peinado. 2019. "The role of organic amendment in soils affected by residual pollution of potentially harmful elements." Chemosphere 237, no. : 124549.
M. García-Carmona; A. Romero-Freire; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martín Peinado. Effectiveness of ecotoxicological tests in relation to physicochemical properties of Zn and Cu polluted Mediterranean soils. Geoderma 2019, 338, 259 -268.
AMA StyleM. García-Carmona, A. Romero-Freire, M. Sierra Aragón, F.J. Martín Peinado. Effectiveness of ecotoxicological tests in relation to physicochemical properties of Zn and Cu polluted Mediterranean soils. Geoderma. 2019; 338 ():259-268.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. García-Carmona; A. Romero-Freire; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martín Peinado. 2019. "Effectiveness of ecotoxicological tests in relation to physicochemical properties of Zn and Cu polluted Mediterranean soils." Geoderma 338, no. : 259-268.
M. García-Carmona; H. García-Robles; C. Turpín Torrano; E. Fernández Ondoño; J. Lorite Moreno; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martín Peinado. Corrigendum to “Residual pollution and vegetation distribution in amended soils 20 years after a pyrite mine tailings spill (Aznalcóllar, Spain)” [Sci. Total Environ. 650 (2019) 933–940]. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 651, 3269 .
AMA StyleM. García-Carmona, H. García-Robles, C. Turpín Torrano, E. Fernández Ondoño, J. Lorite Moreno, M. Sierra Aragón, F.J. Martín Peinado. Corrigendum to “Residual pollution and vegetation distribution in amended soils 20 years after a pyrite mine tailings spill (Aznalcóllar, Spain)” [Sci. Total Environ. 650 (2019) 933–940]. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 651 ():3269.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. García-Carmona; H. García-Robles; C. Turpín Torrano; E. Fernández Ondoño; J. Lorite Moreno; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martín Peinado. 2018. "Corrigendum to “Residual pollution and vegetation distribution in amended soils 20 years after a pyrite mine tailings spill (Aznalcóllar, Spain)” [Sci. Total Environ. 650 (2019) 933–940]." Science of The Total Environment 651, no. : 3269.
The present work assesses the residual pollution in the Guadiamar Green Corridor (SW, Spain) after a long-term aging process (18 years) since the accident of the Aznalcóllar pyrite mine. We have focused on the study of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Cd, As and Pb) in soils, their fractionation and the transference to the surrounding vegetation. The residual polluted areas are characterized by scattered plots with absence of vegetation, presenting high concentrations of trace elements, acidic pH and low organic carbon content. Surrounding these polluted plots, two vegetation gradient belts are clearly identified by changes in plant cover and richness. The inhibition of plant growth in the bare soils is related to the highest mobility of soluble and exchangeable Cu, Zn and Cd forms, which significantly decrease with the distance to the polluted plots. Plant richness and cover show differences between belts; bioaccumulation of trace elements in plants also differs, with a preferential accumulation in roots. Despite the low bioavailability of As and Pb in soils, bioaccumulation factors in plants for these elements are significantly higher in belt 1 in relation to belt 2. High Cu and Cd potential toxic concentrations in aerial parts of vegetation are found, posing a risk for livestock and a potential entrance to the food-chain. On the other hand, Lamarckia aurea (L.) Moench (in belt1) and Trifolium campestre Schreb. (in belt2) were the most dominant species in severely polluted soils. Elevated concentrations of trace elements in the vegetation growing in the area indicate plant adaptation mechanisms to live in these severely polluted soils, which can be used as a good bioindicator of pollution in similar polluted areas.
Minerva García-Carmona; Helena Garcia Robles; C. Turpín Torrano; E. Fernández Ondoño; J. Lorite Moreno; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martín Peinado. Residual pollution and vegetation distribution in amended soils 20 years after a pyrite mine tailings spill (Aznalcóllar, Spain). Science of The Total Environment 2018, 650, 933 -940.
AMA StyleMinerva García-Carmona, Helena Garcia Robles, C. Turpín Torrano, E. Fernández Ondoño, J. Lorite Moreno, M. Sierra Aragón, F.J. Martín Peinado. Residual pollution and vegetation distribution in amended soils 20 years after a pyrite mine tailings spill (Aznalcóllar, Spain). Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 650 ():933-940.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMinerva García-Carmona; Helena Garcia Robles; C. Turpín Torrano; E. Fernández Ondoño; J. Lorite Moreno; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martín Peinado. 2018. "Residual pollution and vegetation distribution in amended soils 20 years after a pyrite mine tailings spill (Aznalcóllar, Spain)." Science of The Total Environment 650, no. : 933-940.
Residual soil pollution from the Aznalcóllar mine spill is still a problem in some parts of the affected area, today converted in the Guadiamar Green Corridor. Dispersed spots of polluted soils, identified by the absence of vegetation, are characterized by soil acid pH and high concentrations of As, Pb, Cu and Zn. Ex situ remediation techniques were performed with unrecovered soil samples. Landfarming, Composting and Biopiles techniques were tested in order to immobilize pollutants, to improve soil properties and to promote vegetation recovery. The effectiveness of these techniques was assessed by toxicity bioassays: Lactuca sativa L. root elongation test, Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence reduction test, soil induced respiration test, and Eisenia andrei survival and metal bioaccumulation tests. Landfarming and Composting were not effective techniques, mainly due to the poor improvement of soil properties which maintained high soluble concentrations of Zn and Cu after treatments. Biopile technique, using adjacent recovered soils in the area, was the most effective action in the reduction of soil toxicity; the improvement of soil properties and the reduction in pollutants solubility were key to improve the response of the tested organisms. Therefore, the mixture of recovered soils with polluted soils in the areas affected by residual contamination is considered a more suitable technique to reduce the residual pollution and to promote the complete soil recovery in the Guadiamar Green Corridor.
M. García-Carmona; A. Romero-Freire; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martínez Garzón; F.J. Martín Peinado. Evaluation of remediation techniques in soils affected by residual contamination with heavy metals and arsenic. Journal of Environmental Management 2017, 191, 228 -236.
AMA StyleM. García-Carmona, A. Romero-Freire, M. Sierra Aragón, F.J. Martínez Garzón, F.J. Martín Peinado. Evaluation of remediation techniques in soils affected by residual contamination with heavy metals and arsenic. Journal of Environmental Management. 2017; 191 ():228-236.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. García-Carmona; A. Romero-Freire; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martínez Garzón; F.J. Martín Peinado. 2017. "Evaluation of remediation techniques in soils affected by residual contamination with heavy metals and arsenic." Journal of Environmental Management 191, no. : 228-236.
Metal(loid)s are common pollutants in soils, causing a significant toxicological risk to living organisms and to the ecosystems. Soil basal respiration (SBR) is broadly used as indicator of metal(loid) stress in polluted soils, although the correlation with toxicity gives in many cases contradictory results. In this paper, we study seven different soils with contrasting properties and with different pollution levels of As, Pb, Zn, and Cu to assess the influence of soil properties and contaminant concentration in the SBR response. In general terms, the SBR showed toxic effects in soils with low organic-matter content and acidic pH values. Low respiration rates were found in soils polluted with As even at very high contamination levels. According to our results, SBR is not a good indicator of pollution by Pb, Zn and Cu in soils rich in organic carbon or in highly carbonate soils. In As-polluted soils, SBR also showed a low sensitivity in all cases. Further studies are needed to assess the role of soil properties and the type of pollutant in the SBR tests.
A. Romero-Freire; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martínez Garzón; F.J. Martín Peinado. Is soil basal respiration a good indicator of soil pollution? Geoderma 2016, 263, 132 -139.
AMA StyleA. Romero-Freire, M. Sierra Aragón, F.J. Martínez Garzón, F.J. Martín Peinado. Is soil basal respiration a good indicator of soil pollution? Geoderma. 2016; 263 ():132-139.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Romero-Freire; M. Sierra Aragón; F.J. Martínez Garzón; F.J. Martín Peinado. 2016. "Is soil basal respiration a good indicator of soil pollution?" Geoderma 263, no. : 132-139.
Soil pollution from the spill of Aznalcóllar mine (S Spain) was monitored by analysing polluted soils in 1998, 1999, and 2004. Following the methodology used in previous studies, in 2013 we conducted a new sampling and analysis of the soils affected by the spill and the data were compared with those of 2004. The results confirm that the pH tended to rise and concentration of pollutants tended to diminish over time. In 2013, the total concentration of pollutants was within the normal range for uncontaminated soils and close to the background concentration of the soils prior to the spill; while the soluble concentration of pollutants was clearly below the toxic level. These results indicate that remediation measures implemented have been effective. However, the removal of tailings (first remediation measure applied) was deficient and in many places the tailings were mixed with the soil. The high concentration of sulphides and metal(loid)s in the tailings gave rise to spots with very acidic and highly polluted soils devoid of vegetation. In 2013, fifteen years after the spill, these spots of bare soils remain a major source of pollution from which pollutants are scattered through the solid and liquid phases of runoff water, requiring action to immobilize pollutants and encourage the restoration of vegetation on these soils. In this type of pollution in a Mediterranean environment, the complete removal of tailings is more important than the speed at which they are removed.
F.J. Martín Peinado; Ana Romero-Freire; I. García Fernández; Manuel Sierra Aragon; I. Ortiz-Bernad; M. Simón Torres. Long-term contamination in a recovered area affected by a mining spill. Science of The Total Environment 2015, 514, 219 -223.
AMA StyleF.J. Martín Peinado, Ana Romero-Freire, I. García Fernández, Manuel Sierra Aragon, I. Ortiz-Bernad, M. Simón Torres. Long-term contamination in a recovered area affected by a mining spill. Science of The Total Environment. 2015; 514 ():219-223.
Chicago/Turabian StyleF.J. Martín Peinado; Ana Romero-Freire; I. García Fernández; Manuel Sierra Aragon; I. Ortiz-Bernad; M. Simón Torres. 2015. "Long-term contamination in a recovered area affected by a mining spill." Science of The Total Environment 514, no. : 219-223.
The present work evaluates the influence of different soil properties and constituents on As solubility in laboratory-contaminated soils, with the aim of assessing the toxicity of this element from the use of bioassays to evaluate the soil leachate toxicity and thereby propose soil guideline values for studies of environmental risk assessment in soil contamination. Seven soils with contrasting properties were artificially contaminated in laboratory with increasing concentrations of As. Samples were incubated for 4 weeks, and afterwards, soil solution (1:1) was obtained after shaking for 24 h. The soil leachate toxicity was assessed with two commonly used bioassays (seed germination test with Lactuca sativa and Microtox ® test with Vibrio fischeri). The relationship between soluble As and soil properties indicated that iron oxides and organic matter content were the variables most closely related to the reduction of the As solubility, while pH and CaCO3 increased As solubility in the soil solutions. Toxicity bioassays showed significant differences between soils depending on their properties, with a reduction of the toxicity in the iron-rich soil (no observed effect concentration (NOEC) = 150 mg kg−1) and a significant increase in the highly carbonate samples (NOEC between 15 and 25 mg kg−1). Soil guideline values for regulatory purposes usually set a single value for large areas (regions or countries) which can produce over- or underestimation of efforts in soil remediation actions. These values should consider different levels according to the main soil properties controlling arsenic mobility and the soil leachate toxicity.
Ana Romero-Freire; Manuel Sierra Aragon; Irene Ortiz-Bernad; Francisco J. Martín-Peinado. Toxicity of arsenic in relation to soil properties: implications to regulatory purposes. Journal of Soils and Sediments 2014, 14, 968 -979.
AMA StyleAna Romero-Freire, Manuel Sierra Aragon, Irene Ortiz-Bernad, Francisco J. Martín-Peinado. Toxicity of arsenic in relation to soil properties: implications to regulatory purposes. Journal of Soils and Sediments. 2014; 14 (5):968-979.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAna Romero-Freire; Manuel Sierra Aragon; Irene Ortiz-Bernad; Francisco J. Martín-Peinado. 2014. "Toxicity of arsenic in relation to soil properties: implications to regulatory purposes." Journal of Soils and Sediments 14, no. 5: 968-979.
This work seeks to establish baselines for As, Co, Cu, Cr, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn, as well as to evaluate the possible anomalies present in the province of Almería (SE Spain), an area geochemically characterized by hydrothermal and volcanic episodes from the Miocene to the Holocene. Both As and Pb exceeded the Soil-Screening Levels (SSLs) established for Andalusia (SSL As = 24 mg·kg− 1; SSL Pb = 400 mg·kg− 1) [Aguilar, J., Dorronsoro, C., Fernández, J.A., Sierra, M., Galán, E., González, I., Bellinfante, N., Aparicio, P., Gómez, J.L., García, T., 2006. Definición de Niveles Genéricos de Referencia para Elementos Traza en la Comunidad Andaluza y Procedimiento de Evaluación de Emplazamientos Afectados por este tipo de Contaminante. Consejería de Medio Ambiente Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla]. The variation in the concentration of these two elements was analysed according to depth, their fractionation in the soil was studied by the BCR technique, and the bivariate correlations between them were made in order to discriminate their geogenic or anthropic origin. The results lead us to conclude that both elements had mainly a geogenic origin, influenced by past geological activity. The As presented the residual fraction above 90% in the cases studied, and therefore the real dangers under current soil conditions proved consistently low. Despite its geogenic origin, Pb presented very high total concentrations in the Sierra de Gádor, with a maximum higher than 5000 mg·kg− 1. Nevertheless, given the low mobility of Pb under oxidant and alkaline conditions, we consider that the zone should be subjected to periodic controls to monitor the mobility of Pb in the soil.
M. Sierra; F.J. Martínez; J. Aguilar. Baselines for trace elements and evaluation of environmental risk in soils of Almería (SE Spain). Geoderma 2007, 139, 209 -219.
AMA StyleM. Sierra, F.J. Martínez, J. Aguilar. Baselines for trace elements and evaluation of environmental risk in soils of Almería (SE Spain). Geoderma. 2007; 139 (1-2):209-219.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Sierra; F.J. Martínez; J. Aguilar. 2007. "Baselines for trace elements and evaluation of environmental risk in soils of Almería (SE Spain)." Geoderma 139, no. 1-2: 209-219.