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Dr. Ana Romero-Freire
Department Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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0 Ecotoxicology
0 Global Change
0 METAL POLLUTION
0 Technology-critical elements (TCEs)

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Journal article
Published: 02 June 2021 in Science of The Total Environment
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A comprehensive study of the toxicity of lanthanides (LN) in relation to the media composition will enhance the prediction of their potential adverse effects for living organisms. Here we examined the effect of different media on the V. faba root elongation and on the cytotoxic (mitotic index) and the genotoxic (micronucleated cell number) effects from toxicity tests with Ce, Gd and Lu (100, 800 and 6400 μg L−1). Three different exposure media were selected: the standard Hoagland media (SH); an alternative SH, without phosphates (SH-P); and distilled water (DW). In the SH no cyto-genotoxic effects were observed and even, for low LN content, potential root elongation stimulation was reported. The absence of toxic effects was explained by a drastic decrease of the total dissolved LN concentration due to the presence of phosphates causing LN precipitation. In SH-P, LN remained largely soluble and inhibition of root elongation was observed mainly for the highest treatments. While in the tests done in DW, toxic effects were obtained for all treatments. Our results showed that in absence of phosphorous, LN appear mainly as free form and complexed in carbonates and sulphates, and can cause toxic effects, whereas toxicity is not expected when phosphorous is available in aquatic media. The highest LN root contents were observed for the tests using distilled water, possibly due to the absence of competition by Ca2+ for uptake. The present work demonstrated that media composition has a great impact in assessing the ecotoxicology of lanthanides.

ACS Style

Ana Romero-Freire; V. González; J.E. Groenenberg; H. Qiu; M. Auffan; S. Cotelle; L. Giamberini. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of lanthanides for Vicia faba L. are mediated by their chemical speciation in different exposure media. Science of The Total Environment 2021, 790, 148223 .

AMA Style

Ana Romero-Freire, V. González, J.E. Groenenberg, H. Qiu, M. Auffan, S. Cotelle, L. Giamberini. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of lanthanides for Vicia faba L. are mediated by their chemical speciation in different exposure media. Science of The Total Environment. 2021; 790 ():148223.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Romero-Freire; V. González; J.E. Groenenberg; H. Qiu; M. Auffan; S. Cotelle; L. Giamberini. 2021. "Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of lanthanides for Vicia faba L. are mediated by their chemical speciation in different exposure media." Science of The Total Environment 790, no. : 148223.

Journal article
Published: 29 October 2020 in Minerals
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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 (11):968.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonio 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.

Journal article
Published: 09 June 2020 in Marine Chemistry
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The current trend of climatic alterations will accelerate the modification of the ocean system by, among other aspects, changing the metal speciation and its bioavailability which may have an impact in their accumulation by marine organisms. Understanding the impact of these potential changes is essential for future risk assessment of metal contamination. In the present study, we selected the species Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) as the main European aquaculture production bivalve and due to its widespread use for biomonitoring purposes. A long-term test (2 months) was carried out to explore the impact that global change in the marine environment (warming and CO2 increase) may exert on the accumulation of dissolved trace metals (Cu, Co, Pb, Cd, Cr, As and Ni) in different body parts of mussels (foot and rest of soft tissues). Studied mussels were collected at two different climatic locations (Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea) and exposed to unspiked, unpolluted seawater from the Vigo Ria (NW Iberian Peninsula). Results showed that under the global change conditions proposed in this study (1100 pCO2 and 25 °C), the increase in temperature resulted in a lower condition index and byssus strength for mussels from Atlantic Sea, while Mediterranean sea mussels, adapted to higher temperatures, did not show remarkable variations. According to trace metals accumulation in different body parts of the studied mussels, it was observed that the effect of increasing CO2 alone did not show to have an impact in the bioaccumulation, but the combined stressors (increase in CO2 and temperature) may lead to an increase in the bioaccumulation for some elements. The increase in temperature resulted in a decrease of the Cu content of foot tissue (byssus gland) in mussels from Atlantic Sea, which is in accordance with the lower byssus strength observed under such conditions. Our results indicate that the expected seawater temperature increase, which will be produced gradually during next decades, should be further study to ensure the species adaptability and aquaculture production.

ACS Style

A. Romero-Freire; J. Lassoued; E. Silva; S. Calvo; F.F. Pérez; N. Bejaoui; J.M.F. Babarro; A. Cobelo-García. Trace metal accumulation in the commercial mussel M. galloprovincialis under future climate change scenarios. Marine Chemistry 2020, 224, 103840 .

AMA Style

A. Romero-Freire, J. Lassoued, E. Silva, S. Calvo, F.F. Pérez, N. Bejaoui, J.M.F. Babarro, A. Cobelo-García. Trace metal accumulation in the commercial mussel M. galloprovincialis under future climate change scenarios. Marine Chemistry. 2020; 224 ():103840.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Romero-Freire; J. Lassoued; E. Silva; S. Calvo; F.F. Pérez; N. Bejaoui; J.M.F. Babarro; A. Cobelo-García. 2020. "Trace metal accumulation in the commercial mussel M. galloprovincialis under future climate change scenarios." Marine Chemistry 224, no. : 103840.

Journal article
Published: 20 September 2019 in Minerals
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This work investigated a rare earth element (REE) natural biogeochemical cycle in an area with a light rare earth element (LREE)-rich ferrocarbonatite intrusion. An REE determination in this geological environment allowed us to trace REE natural transfers in order to better manage future REE mining exploitations. Our findings suggest that although REE concentrations in abiotic compartments (soil and freshwater systems) and biotic samples (terrestrial and aquatic plants) were low, the LREE fractionation observed in the parent material was maintained along compartments. Additionally, Nd anomalies observed in the sediment pore water suggest a potential different biogeochemical cycle of this element in aquatic systems. According to the potential bioaccumulation of REEs in the organisms of two studied plants belonging to terrestrial and aquatic compartments, Equisetum arvense L. and Typha latifolia L. (respectively), we observed that REEs were not accumulated and that they showed limited REE transfer inside plants, but with an increased uptake of Eu relative to the other REEs. Our results indicated a low mobility and transfer of REEs from REE-rich bedrocks in a natural area toward terrestrial and freshwater systems, but also pointed to a dilution of the REE content in the different compartments, maintaining the LREE fractionation. Our findings provide new knowledge about the REE biochemical cycle in a natural area (from rocks to plants) and represent a starting point for an environmentally friendly exploitation of future REE mining areas.

ACS Style

Ana Romero-Freire; François Turlin; Anne-Sylvie André-Mayer; Mia Pelletier; Alain Cayer; Laure Giamberini; Romero- Freire; André- Mayer. Biogeochemical Cycle of Lanthanides in a Light Rare Earth Element-Enriched Geological Area (Quebec, Canada). Minerals 2019, 9, 573 .

AMA Style

Ana Romero-Freire, François Turlin, Anne-Sylvie André-Mayer, Mia Pelletier, Alain Cayer, Laure Giamberini, Romero- Freire, André- Mayer. Biogeochemical Cycle of Lanthanides in a Light Rare Earth Element-Enriched Geological Area (Quebec, Canada). Minerals. 2019; 9 (10):573.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Romero-Freire; François Turlin; Anne-Sylvie André-Mayer; Mia Pelletier; Alain Cayer; Laure Giamberini; Romero- Freire; André- Mayer. 2019. "Biogeochemical Cycle of Lanthanides in a Light Rare Earth Element-Enriched Geological Area (Quebec, Canada)." Minerals 9, no. 10: 573.

Review
Published: 11 September 2019 in Frontiers in Marine Science
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ACS Style

Ana Romero-Freire; Juan Santos-Echeandía; Patricia Neira; Antonio Cobelo-García. Less-Studied Technology-Critical Elements (Nb, Ta, Ga, In, Ge, Te) in the Marine Environment: Review on Their Concentrations in Water and Organisms. Frontiers in Marine Science 2019, 6, 1 .

AMA Style

Ana Romero-Freire, Juan Santos-Echeandía, Patricia Neira, Antonio Cobelo-García. Less-Studied Technology-Critical Elements (Nb, Ta, Ga, In, Ge, Te) in the Marine Environment: Review on Their Concentrations in Water and Organisms. Frontiers in Marine Science. 2019; 6 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Romero-Freire; Juan Santos-Echeandía; Patricia Neira; Antonio Cobelo-García. 2019. "Less-Studied Technology-Critical Elements (Nb, Ta, Ga, In, Ge, Te) in the Marine Environment: Review on Their Concentrations in Water and Organisms." Frontiers in Marine Science 6, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2019 in Geoderma
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ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. 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.

Journal article
Published: 15 January 2019 in Science of The Total Environment
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Lanthanide (LNs) release into the environment is expected to greatly increase in the coming years due to a high demand for new technologies. However there is a gap in the ecological risk assessment of these metals because most of the ecotoxicological studies have been performed with only one element, although they are usually found in nature as a group. This research evaluated the effects of mixtures of three lanthanides, cerium (Ce), gadolinium (Gd), and lutetium (Lu), representative of the light, middle and heavy rare earth elements, respectively, on seven aquatic species (A. fischeri, R. subcapitata, C. vulgaris, B. calyciflorus, H. incongruens, D. magna and D. rerio). Lanthanide content decreased over time in all toxicity test media and it was observed that LN sedimentation starts at the beginning of the tests with a steep decline of the available LN amount. Potential toxic effects of LNs were observed only in five species of the seven studied, predominantly in the unicellular organism (A. fischeri) and in the organisms belonging to the lower trophic levels (R. subcapitata and B. calyciflorus). The multi-toxicity approach performed in this study showed synergistic effects in tests performed with the bacteria A. fischeri and the algae R. subcapitata, and antagonistic effects for the rotifer B. calyciflorus. Although predicting the response of aquatic organisms exposed to multi-elements is not an easy task and can be masked by potential interactions with other compounds or even by nutrient removal. The variation in toxic action among species observed in this study reveals that lanthanide interaction in toxicity mechanisms should not be discarded, and supports that further studies with LN mixtures are required to properly understand their toxic behaviour in nature ecosystems.

ACS Style

A. Romero-Freire; E. Joonas; M. Muna; C. Cossu-Leguille; D.A.L. Vignati; L. Giamberini. Assessment of the toxic effects of mixtures of three lanthanides (Ce, Gd, Lu) to aquatic biota. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 661, 276 -284.

AMA Style

A. Romero-Freire, E. Joonas, M. Muna, C. Cossu-Leguille, D.A.L. Vignati, L. Giamberini. Assessment of the toxic effects of mixtures of three lanthanides (Ce, Gd, Lu) to aquatic biota. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 661 ():276-284.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Romero-Freire; E. Joonas; M. Muna; C. Cossu-Leguille; D.A.L. Vignati; L. Giamberini. 2019. "Assessment of the toxic effects of mixtures of three lanthanides (Ce, Gd, Lu) to aquatic biota." Science of The Total Environment 661, no. : 276-284.

Journal article
Published: 12 October 2018 in Minerals
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Although the presence of potentially toxic metals in soils is normally associated with human soil pollution, these elements also appear naturally in environments in which the lithological base contains ultramafic rocks such as peridotites. Serpentinitic soils tend to develop on substrates of this kind, often containing metals with few or no known biological functions, which in some cases are toxic for most plants. This study assessed the level of potentially toxic metals and other elements in an endorheic basin discovered in Sierra Bermeja (Southern Spain), one of the largest peridotite outcrops on Earth. In this location—of particular interest given that basins of this kind are very rare on peridotites—six geomorphoedaphic sub-units on three different substrates were identified. The distribution of microelements in these sub-units was analyzed, and stratified random sampling was performed to identify the major ions with essential functions for living organisms and the potentially toxic metals. The lowest values for macronutrients appeared in the soils formed on ultramafic materials. When analyzing the load of potentially toxic metals, no significant differences were detected between the soils formed on serpentinite and peridotite substrates, although different values were obtained in the soils formed over acidic rocks.

ACS Style

Ana Romero-Freire; José Antonio Olmedo-Cobo; José Gómez-Zotano. Elemental Concentration in Serpentinitic Soils over Ultramafic Bedrock in Sierra Bermeja (Southern Spain). Minerals 2018, 8, 447 .

AMA Style

Ana Romero-Freire, José Antonio Olmedo-Cobo, José Gómez-Zotano. Elemental Concentration in Serpentinitic Soils over Ultramafic Bedrock in Sierra Bermeja (Southern Spain). Minerals. 2018; 8 (10):447.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Romero-Freire; José Antonio Olmedo-Cobo; José Gómez-Zotano. 2018. "Elemental Concentration in Serpentinitic Soils over Ultramafic Bedrock in Sierra Bermeja (Southern Spain)." Minerals 8, no. 10: 447.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
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Rare earth elements (REEs) disperse from indigenous rocks to the environment, thus making sediments one of the major sinks and sources of metal pollution. The emerging use of REEs and the subsequent opening of new mining areas may contribute to their release into surrounding ecosystems. For this reason, this study was performed in a natural area with geological material abundant in ferrocarbonatites and light REE. The aim of this work was to assess the natural REE availability and (eco)toxicity in freshwater sediments. Sediments showed high REE concentrations in samples with fine grain size fractions, and low in organic-rich sediments. The enrichment in LREE was mostly from rocks and the obtained enrichment factors (EF) confirmed that the sediments are not anthropogenically polluted. To assess REE availability and ecotoxicity, four toxicity tests were performed. REEs measured as the dissolved concentration in the test media were very low compared to the potentially available total REE in sediments and showed positive or negative correlations with fine or coarse grain sizes, respectively, and positive correlations with the content in Mg, Fe and Al. In tests performed in media supplemented with salts, the availability of REEs decreased considerably. Only some toxic effects could be linked to the REE contents in the ostracodtox and luminotox tests. However, measurement of toxicity could be influenced by the sediment properties and lead to a potential overestimation of ecotoxicity if only REE are regarded. Our study reveals that the physicochemical properties of sediments are a key factor controlling both REE availability and toxicity, whereas the determination of REE effects from toxicity tests using liquid media with salt addition will decrease REE availability and could mask toxic effects. Our findings provide new knowledge about REE behaviour in sediments and are a starting point for understanding potential REE pollution around prospective mining areas.

ACS Style

A. Romero-Freire; Laetitia Minguez; M. Pelletier; A. Cayer; C. Caillet; Simon Devin; E.M. Gross; F. Guérold; D.A.L. Vignati; L. Giamberini. Assessment of baseline ecotoxicity of sediments from a prospective mining area enriched in light rare earth elements. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 612, 831 -839.

AMA Style

A. Romero-Freire, Laetitia Minguez, M. Pelletier, A. Cayer, C. Caillet, Simon Devin, E.M. Gross, F. Guérold, D.A.L. Vignati, L. Giamberini. Assessment of baseline ecotoxicity of sediments from a prospective mining area enriched in light rare earth elements. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 612 ():831-839.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Romero-Freire; Laetitia Minguez; M. Pelletier; A. Cayer; C. Caillet; Simon Devin; E.M. Gross; F. Guérold; D.A.L. Vignati; L. Giamberini. 2018. "Assessment of baseline ecotoxicity of sediments from a prospective mining area enriched in light rare earth elements." Science of The Total Environment 612, no. : 831-839.

Research article
Published: 26 October 2017 in Environmental Science & Technology
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Here we use two enriched stable isotopes, (68)Znen and (64)Znen (>99%), to prepare (68)ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and soluble (64)ZnCl2. The standard LUFA 2.2 test soil was dosed with (68)ZnO NPs and soluble (64)ZnCl2 to 5 mg kg(-1) each, plus between 0 and 95 mg kg(-1) of soluble ZnCl2 with a natural isotope composition. After 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of soil incubation, earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were introduced for 72-hour exposures. Analyses of soils, pore waters and earthworm tissues using multiple collector ICP-MS allowed the simultaneous measurement of the diagnostic (68)Zn/(66)Zn, (64)Zn/(66)Zn and (68)Zn/(64)Zn ratios, from which the three different isotopic forms of Zn were quantified. Eisenia andrei was able to regulate Zn body concentrations with no difference observed between the different total dosing concentrations. The accumulation of labelled Zn by the earthworms showed a direct relationship with the proportion of labelled to total Zn in the pore water, which increased with longer soil incubation times and decreasing soil pH. The (68)Znen/(64)Znen ratios determined for earthworms (1.09 ± 0.04), soils (1.09 ± 0.02) and pore waters (1.08 ± 0.02) indicate indistinguishable environmental distribution and uptake of the Zn forms, most likely due to rapid dissolution of the ZnO NPs.

ACS Style

Adam Laycock; Ana Romero-Freire; Jens Najorka; Claus Svendsen; Cornelis A. M. Van Gestel; Mark Rehkämper. Novel Multi-isotope Tracer Approach To Test ZnO Nanoparticle and Soluble Zn Bioavailability in Joint Soil Exposures. Environmental Science & Technology 2017, 51, 12756 -12763.

AMA Style

Adam Laycock, Ana Romero-Freire, Jens Najorka, Claus Svendsen, Cornelis A. M. Van Gestel, Mark Rehkämper. Novel Multi-isotope Tracer Approach To Test ZnO Nanoparticle and Soluble Zn Bioavailability in Joint Soil Exposures. Environmental Science & Technology. 2017; 51 (21):12756-12763.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Adam Laycock; Ana Romero-Freire; Jens Najorka; Claus Svendsen; Cornelis A. M. Van Gestel; Mark Rehkämper. 2017. "Novel Multi-isotope Tracer Approach To Test ZnO Nanoparticle and Soluble Zn Bioavailability in Joint Soil Exposures." Environmental Science & Technology 51, no. 21: 12756-12763.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2017 in Journal of Environmental Management
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. 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.

Journal article
Published: 21 July 2016 in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
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To assess the influence of soil properties and ageing on the availability and toxicity of Zn applied as nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) or as Zn2+ ions (ZnCl2), three natural soils were individually spiked with either ZnO NPs or ZnCl2 and incubated for up to 6 months. Available Zn concentrations in soil were measured by pore water extraction (ZnPW), while exposures of earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were performed to study Zn bioavailability. ZnPW was lower when Zn was applied as nanoparticles than as ionic form, and decreased with increasing soil pH. ZnPW for both Zn forms were affected by ageing, but varied among the tested soils, highlighting the influence of soil properties. Internal Zn concentration in the earthworms (ZnE) was highest for the soil with high organic carbon content (5.4%) and basic pH (7.6) spiked with ZnO NPs, but the same soil spiked with ZnCl2 showed the lowest increase in ZnE compared to the control. Survival, weight change, and reproduction of the earthworms were affected by both Zn forms, but differences in toxicity could not be explained by soil properties or ageing. This shows that ZnO NPs and ZnCl2 behave differently in soils depending on soil properties and ageing processes, but differences in earthworm toxicity remain unexplained. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

ACS Style

Ana Romero-Freire; Stephen Lofts; Francisco J. Martín Peinado; Cornelis A.M. Van Gestel. Effects of aging and soil properties on zinc oxide nanoparticle availability and its ecotoxicological effects to the earthwormEisenia andrei. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2016, 36, 137 -146.

AMA Style

Ana Romero-Freire, Stephen Lofts, Francisco J. Martín Peinado, Cornelis A.M. Van Gestel. Effects of aging and soil properties on zinc oxide nanoparticle availability and its ecotoxicological effects to the earthwormEisenia andrei. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 2016; 36 (1):137-146.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Romero-Freire; Stephen Lofts; Francisco J. Martín Peinado; Cornelis A.M. Van Gestel. 2016. "Effects of aging and soil properties on zinc oxide nanoparticle availability and its ecotoxicological effects to the earthwormEisenia andrei." Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 36, no. 1: 137-146.

Research article
Published: 04 June 2016 in Land Degradation & Development
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This work evaluated how pine plantations established on old fields and degraded lands influence soil properties in comparison with adjacent unplanted areas that undergo into secondary succession, and native forests, analysing the effects of abiotic variables and stand characteristics in the afforestation process. Thirty‐two paired sites (pine plantations versus unplanted areas) and 10 native forests were selected in the SE Spain. In total, 74 soil profiles were studied, and 222 composite soil samples were collected at three different depths. Soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and C : N ratio showed significantly greater values in pine plantations in relation to the unplanted areas (0–5 cm), and the mean values of soil organic carbon, nitrogen (N), C : N ratio, and cation exchange capacity in these pine plantations were similar to those found under native forests. Only K+ concentrations were clearly higher in the native forests than in the other land uses for all depths analysed. Pine plantations in the drier and warmer areas showed lower soil quality in relation to the paired unplanted areas, as well as the younger and denser ones; it may be because under these situations, more time is needed to produce an improvement. In fact, the paired net variations increased with the stand age and/or tree size. In conclusion, pine plantations were in general more efficient in improving parameters related to soil quality, especially in locations with high soil water retention capacity, which in our study area were found at higher and cooler elevations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

ACS Style

Francisco J. Martín‐Peinado; Francisco B. Navarro; Maria Noelia Jimenez; Manuel Sierra; Francisco J. Martínez; Ana Romero-Freire; Leopoldo Rojo; Emilia Fernández. Long‐term Effects of Pine Plantations on Soil Quality in Southern Spain. Land Degradation & Development 2016, 27, 1709 -1720.

AMA Style

Francisco J. Martín‐Peinado, Francisco B. Navarro, Maria Noelia Jimenez, Manuel Sierra, Francisco J. Martínez, Ana Romero-Freire, Leopoldo Rojo, Emilia Fernández. Long‐term Effects of Pine Plantations on Soil Quality in Southern Spain. Land Degradation & Development. 2016; 27 (7):1709-1720.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francisco J. Martín‐Peinado; Francisco B. Navarro; Maria Noelia Jimenez; Manuel Sierra; Francisco J. Martínez; Ana Romero-Freire; Leopoldo Rojo; Emilia Fernández. 2016. "Long‐term Effects of Pine Plantations on Soil Quality in Southern Spain." Land Degradation & Development 27, no. 7: 1709-1720.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2016 in Geoderma
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. 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.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2015 in CATENA
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ACS Style

Manuel Sánchez-Marañón; Ana Romero-Freire; Francisco José Martín-Peinado. Soil-color changes by sulfuricization induced from a pyritic surface sediment. CATENA 2015, 135, 173 -183.

AMA Style

Manuel Sánchez-Marañón, Ana Romero-Freire, Francisco José Martín-Peinado. Soil-color changes by sulfuricization induced from a pyritic surface sediment. CATENA. 2015; 135 ():173-183.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manuel Sánchez-Marañón; Ana Romero-Freire; Francisco José Martín-Peinado. 2015. "Soil-color changes by sulfuricization induced from a pyritic surface sediment." CATENA 135, no. : 173-183.

Journal article
Published: 20 November 2015 in Environmental Pollution
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Residual pollution in the Guadiamar Green Corridor still remains after Aználcollar mine spill in 1998. The polluted areas are identified by the absence of vegetation, soil acidic pH and high concentrations of As, Pb, Zn and Cu. Soil toxicity was assessed by lettuce root elongation and induced soil respiration bioassays. In bare soils, total As and Pb concentrations and water-extractable levels for As, Zn and Cu exceeded the toxicity guidelines. Pollutants responsible for toxicity were different depending on the tested organism, with arsenic being most toxic for lettuce and the metal mixture to soil respiration. Soil properties, such as pH or organic carbon content, are key factors to control metal availability and toxicity in the area. According to our results, there is a risk of pollution to living organisms and the soil quality criteria established in the area should be revised to reduce the risk of toxicity.

ACS Style

A. Romero-Freire; I. García Fernández; M. Simón Torres; F.J. Martínez Garzón; Francisco José Martín Peinado. Long-term toxicity assessment of soils in a recovered area affected by a mining spill. Environmental Pollution 2015, 208, 553 -561.

AMA Style

A. Romero-Freire, I. García Fernández, M. Simón Torres, F.J. Martínez Garzón, Francisco José Martín Peinado. Long-term toxicity assessment of soils in a recovered area affected by a mining spill. Environmental Pollution. 2015; 208 ():553-561.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Romero-Freire; I. García Fernández; M. Simón Torres; F.J. Martínez Garzón; Francisco José Martín Peinado. 2015. "Long-term toxicity assessment of soils in a recovered area affected by a mining spill." Environmental Pollution 208, no. : 553-561.

Journal article
Published: 24 May 2015 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research
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This study aimed at assessing the influence of soil properties on the uptake and toxicity effects of arsenic in the earthworm Eisenia andrei exposed for 4 weeks to seven natural soils spiked with different arsenic concentrations. Water-soluble soil concentrations (AsW) and internal As concentrations in the earthworms (AsE) were greatly different between soils. These two variables were highly correlated and were key factors in earthworm toxicity response. AsW was explained by some soil properties, such as the pH, calcium carbonate content, ionic strength, texture or oxide forms. Toxicity showed a clear variation between soils, in some cases without achieving 50 % adverse effect at the highest As concentration added (600 mg kg(-1)). Nevertheless, soil properties did not show, in general, a high relation with studied toxicity endpoints, although the high correlation with AsW could greatly reduce indirectly As bioavailability and toxicity risk for earthworms. Obtained results suggest that soil properties should be part of the criteria to establishing thresholds for contaminated soils because they will be key in controlling As availability and thus result in different degrees of toxicity.

ACS Style

Ana Romero-Freire; F. J. Martín Peinado; M. Díez Ortiz; C. A. M. Van Gestel. Influence of soil properties on the bioaccumulation and effects of arsenic in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2015, 22, 15016 -28.

AMA Style

Ana Romero-Freire, F. J. Martín Peinado, M. Díez Ortiz, C. A. M. Van Gestel. Influence of soil properties on the bioaccumulation and effects of arsenic in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2015; 22 (19):15016-28.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Romero-Freire; F. J. Martín Peinado; M. Díez Ortiz; C. A. M. Van Gestel. 2015. "Influence of soil properties on the bioaccumulation and effects of arsenic in the earthworm Eisenia andrei." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22, no. 19: 15016-28.

Journal article
Published: 11 May 2015 in The Journal of Agricultural Science
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SUMMARYLand use and management, together with soil properties, determine soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and its stabilization mechanisms. Four soils (0–30 cm depth) were studied in a semi-arid region with different uses and management regimes: two soils with olive cultivation, both under a non-tillage regime and one with a cover crop (OCC) and the other without (ONT); a fluvial terrace soil (FT) with cereal–sunflower–fallow rotation; and an unaltered soil under natural vegetation (oak trees; OT). The OT soil had a higher SOC concentration than the agricultural soils (OCC, ONT and FT), followed by the FT soil without significant differences. The olive grove soils had a lower SOC concentration but the two types of management differed significantly, with higher concentrations due to the cover crop. Hydrofluoric acid (HF)-soluble, hydrochloric acid (HCl)-resistant, and non-oxidizable (sodium peroxodisulphate; Na2S2O8) SOC fractions were determined at different depths (0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm). The relative HCl-resistant and non-oxidizable SOC fractions increased with depth, whereas the relative HF-soluble SOC fraction varied slightly among the four soils considered. Differences in the SOC-stabilization mechanism were found according to the chemical SOC fractionation. In the FT and OT soils, where HF-soluble SOC and soil respiration rates were higher, the intense biological activity rapidly degraded the plant debris, being partially fixed and stabilized by the fine mineral-soil fraction as the principal stabilization mechanism of SOC. The olive grove soils had lower biological activity but higher SOC resistance to oxidation with Na2S2O8, thus suggesting that chemical recalcitrance of soil organic matter was a relevant stabilization mechanism in these soils.

ACS Style

M. Sierra; F. J. Martínez; V. Braojos; Ana Romero-Freire; I. Ortiz-Bernad; F. J. Martin. Chemical stabilization of organic carbon in agricultural soils in a semi-arid region (SE Spain). The Journal of Agricultural Science 2015, 154, 87 -97.

AMA Style

M. Sierra, F. J. Martínez, V. Braojos, Ana Romero-Freire, I. Ortiz-Bernad, F. J. Martin. Chemical stabilization of organic carbon in agricultural soils in a semi-arid region (SE Spain). The Journal of Agricultural Science. 2015; 154 (1):87-97.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Sierra; F. J. Martínez; V. Braojos; Ana Romero-Freire; I. Ortiz-Bernad; F. J. Martin. 2015. "Chemical stabilization of organic carbon in agricultural soils in a semi-arid region (SE Spain)." The Journal of Agricultural Science 154, no. 1: 87-97.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2015 in Science of The Total Environment
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

F.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.

Journal article
Published: 14 February 2015 in Journal of Hazardous Materials
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Soil contamination with lead is a worldwide problem. Pb can cause adverse effects, but its mobility and availability in the terrestrial environment are strongly controlled by soil properties. The present study investigated the influence of different soil properties on the solubility of lead in laboratory spiked soils, and its toxicity in three bioassays, including Lactuca sativa root elongation and Vibrio fischeri illumination tests applied to aqueous extracts and basal soil respiration assays. Final aim was to compare soil-dependent toxicity with guideline values. The L. sativa bioassay proved to be more sensitive to Pb toxicity than the V. fischeri and soil respiration tests. Toxicity was significantly correlated with soil properties, with soil pH, carbonate and organic carbon content being the most important factors. Therefore, these variables should be considered when defining guideline values.

ACS Style

A. Romero-Freire; F.J. Martin Peinado; Kees van Gestel. Effect of soil properties on the toxicity of Pb: Assessment of the appropriateness of guideline values. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2015, 289, 46 -53.

AMA Style

A. Romero-Freire, F.J. Martin Peinado, Kees van Gestel. Effect of soil properties on the toxicity of Pb: Assessment of the appropriateness of guideline values. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2015; 289 ():46-53.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Romero-Freire; F.J. Martin Peinado; Kees van Gestel. 2015. "Effect of soil properties on the toxicity of Pb: Assessment of the appropriateness of guideline values." Journal of Hazardous Materials 289, no. : 46-53.