Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sewage sludge and fly ash mixture as an alternative for decontaminating lead and zinc ore regions

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many years of heavy industrial processes in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region in Poland (ore flotation, metal smelting and battery scrap processing) have resulted in lead, zinc and cadmium pollution of the air and soil. The most significant issues stem not only from elevated levels of these metals in environmental compartments, but also from the uneven pattern of their distribution. Point sources of local metal concentration are to be found dispersed over areas of contaminated soil. Such distribution is a challenge for remediation technology, as it precludes the introduction of standard procedures. Metals present in the soil pose a constant risk for living organisms. One of the most effective ways of limiting their ecological impact is by decreasing their mobility. In this study, the effect of introducing sewage sludge and fly ash mixtures (sluash material) into contaminated soil was evaluated. We tested the mixture in terms of the probability of its ecotoxicological impact on plant growth and development. The data obtained have shown that even low doses (3 %) of sluash are effective in reducing the bioavailability of lead, cadmium and zinc, resulting in a decrease of their concentration in plants. The application of sluash also led to stabilize soil pH. It also had a positive impact on the total number of soil bacteria and soil fungi.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alef, K. (1995). Enrichment of fungi. In K. Alef & P. Nannipieri (Eds.), Methods in applied soil microbiology and biochemistry (p. 145). London: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., Xub, W., Liuc, J., Zhaod, Q., Heb, Y., & Chene, G. (2007). Application of composted sewage sludge (CSS) as a soil amendment for turfgrass growth. Ecological Engineering, 29, 96–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghodrati, M., Sims, J. T., & Vasilas, B. L. (1995). Evaluation of fly ash as a soil amendment for the Atlantic Coastal Plain. I. Soil hydraulic properties and elemental leaching. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 81, 349–361.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gianfreda, L., Rao, M. A., Piotrowska, A., Palumbo, G., & Colombo, C. (2005). Soil enzyme activities as affected by anthropogenic alterations: intensive agricultural practices and organic pollution. Science of the Total Environment, 341, 265–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hiroki, M. (1992). Effects of heavy metal contamination on soil microbial populations. Soil Science & Plant Nutrition, 38, 141–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houba, V. J. G., Van der Lee, J. J., & Novozamsky, I. (1995). Soil analysis procedures, other procedures. (Soil and plant analysis, part 5b). Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. Wageningen Agricultural University.

  • ISO 2008. 17402: Soil quality - requirements and guidance for the selection and application of methods for the assessment of bioavailability of contaminants in soil and soil materials.

  • Jaramillo-López, P.-F., Powell, M. A., & Hayden, D. B. (2011). The influence of soil amendments (fly ash and stabilized biosolids) on Meloidogyne hapla in microplots planted with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Nematropica, 41(1), 141–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabata-Pendias, A., & Pendias, H. (2001). Biogeochemistry of trace elements (3rd ed., p. 413). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kucharski, R., Marchwińska, E., & Gzyl, J. (1994). Agricultural policy in polluted areas. Ecological Engineering, 3, 299–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner, H. (1995). Mineral nutrition of higher plants. London: Academic Press Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masto, R., Ahirwar, R., George, J., Ram, L., & Selvi, V. (2011). Soil biological and biochemical responses to Cd exposure. Open Journal of Soil Science, 1(1), 8–15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neilsen, G. H., Hogue, E. J., Neilsen, D., & Zebarth, B. J. (1998). Evaluation of organic wastes as soil amendments for cultivation of carrot and chard on irrigated sandy soils. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 78(1), 217–225.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oleszczuk, P., Malara, A., Jośko, I., & Lesiuk, A. (2012). The phytotoxicity changes of sewage sludge-amended soils. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 223(8), 4937–4948.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-de-Mora, A., Burgos, P., Madejón, E., Cabrera, F., Jaeckel, P., & Schloter, M. (2006). Microbial community structure and function in a soil contaminated by heavy metals: effects of plant growth and different amendments. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 38, 327–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajapaksha, R. M. C. P., Tobor-Kapłon, M. A., & Bååth, E. (2004). Metal toxicity affects fungal and bacterial activities in soil differently. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70, 2966–2973.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rethman, N. F. G., Reynolds, K. A., & Kruger, R. (1999). Crop response to SLASH (mixture of sewage sludge, lime and fly ash) as influenced by soil texture, acidity and fertility. International Ash Utilization Symposium, Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, paper 71.

  • Reynolds, K., Kruger, R., & Rethman, N. (1999). The manufacture and evaluation of an artificial soil (SLASH) prepared from fly ash and sewage sludge. International Fly Ash Utilization Symposium, Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, paper 1.

  • Reynolds, K., Kruger, R., Rethman, N., & Truter, W. (2002). The production of an artificial soil from sewage sludge and fly ash and the subsequent evaluation of growth enhancement, heavy metal translocation and leaching potential. Water SA Special Edition: WISA Proceedings, 73–77, http://www.wrc.org.za.

  • Sas-Nowosielska, A., Kucharski, R., Małkowski, E., Nowosielski, O., & Pogrzeba, M. (2000). Zinc plant toxicity in process of lead and cadmium phytoextraction. Environmental Protection and Natural Resourses, 20, 35–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sas-Nowosielska, A., Kucharski, R., & Kuperberg, J. M. (2010). Phytoremediation of soils around former zinc and lead facilities. In G. Plaza (Ed.), Trends in bioremediation and phytoremediation (pp. 373–381). Kerala: Research Signpost.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit, E., Leeflang, P., & Wernars, K. (1997). Detection of shifts in microbial community structure and diversity in soil caused by copper contamination using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis[J]. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 23, 249–261.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stuczyński, T., Siebielec, G., Daniels, W. L., McCarty, G., & Chaney, R. L. (2007). Biological aspects of metal waste reclamation with biosolids. Journal of Environmental Quality, 36(4), 1154–1162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sylvia, D. M., Fuhrmann, J. J., Hartel, P. G., & Zuberer, D. A. (2005). Principles and applications of soil microbiology. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Truter, W. F., Rethman, N. F. G., Reynolds, K. A., & Kruger, R. A. (2001). The use of a soil ameliorant based on fly ash and sewage sludge. International Fly Ash Utilization Symposium, Center for Applied Energy Research, University. of Kentucky, paper 80.

  • Tsai, Y.-P., You, S.-J., Pai, T.-Y., & Chen, K.-W. (2005). Effect of cadmium on composition and diversity of bacterial communities in activated sludges. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 55(4), 285–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaitkutė, D., Baltrėnaitė, E., Booth, C. A., & Fullen, M. A. (2010). Does sewage sludge amendment to soil enhance the development of Silver birch and Scots pine? Hungarian Geographical Bulletin, 59(4), 393–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Shi, J., Wang, H., Lin, Q., Chen, X., & Chen, Y. (2007). The influence of soil heavy metals pollution on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and community composition near a copper smelter. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 67(1), 75–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, J. W. C., & Selvam, A. (2009). Growth and elemental accumulation of plants grown in acidic soil amended with coal fly ash–sewage sludge co-compost. Archives of Environment Contamination and Toxicology, 57, 515–523.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Sun, L., & Sun, T. (2008). Solubility of ion and trace metals from stabilized sewage sludge by fly ash and alkaline mine tailing. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 20(6), 710–716.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant no. NN 305 371 238 from The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. We would like to thank Norbert Słaboń for his technical support during the experiments. We also would like to thank to the reviewers for their kind comments and improvements of the text.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha St., 40-832, Katowice, Poland

    M. Pogrzeba, J. Krzyżak & A. Sas-Nowosielska

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Silesia, 28 Jagiellońska Str., 40-032, Katowice, Poland

    R. Galimska-Stypa

Authors
  1. M. Pogrzeba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Galimska-Stypa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Krzyżak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Sas-Nowosielska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Sas-Nowosielska.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pogrzeba, M., Galimska-Stypa, R., Krzyżak, J. et al. Sewage sludge and fly ash mixture as an alternative for decontaminating lead and zinc ore regions. Environ Monit Assess 187, 4120 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4120-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4120-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation