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Beryllium natural background concentration and mobility: a reappraisal examining the case of high Be-bearing pyroclastic rocks

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Abstract

Beryllium is widely distributed in soils at low levels, but it can also occur naturally in higher concentrations in a variety of materials exploited for many industrial applications. Beryllium is also one of the most toxic natural elements and is known to be a human carcinogen. A concise account of the literature data on baseline concentrations of Be in soils illustrates the possibility of worldwide presence of areas with a high natural background concentration of Be (up to 300 mg/kg), the crustal abundance of which is generally estimated to be in the range 2–6 mg/kg. Nevertheless, the number of available data is rather limited in comparison with those about other toxic elements such as Pb, Cd and Cr. This has probably caused the choice of low values of concentration level as the reference for the definition of soil contamination: these values are not always realistic and are not applicable to large areas. As a case study, we report and analyse a diffuse, unusually high (up to 80 mg/kg, average approximately 20 mg/kg), natural occurrence of beryllium in loose and poorly consolidated pyroclastic layers related to the Pleistocene activity of the Vico volcano. Additionally, the analysis of Be leachability has been carried out, providing evidence of a not negligible mobility in contrast with the scarce data presented in the literature that usually indicate beryllium as an element with low mobility in oxidising surface environmental conditions. This research marks the beginning of a possible reappraisal of beryllium geochemical behaviour and background levels, providing more realistic reference values for risk assessment and land management.

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  1. ENEA, UTPRA (Environmental Characterisation and Remediation Technical Unit), C.R. Casaccia, via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy

    Giovanna Armiento, Carlo Cremisini, Elisa Nardi & Renata Pacifico

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, University “Roma Tre”, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Fabio Bellatreccia & Giancarlo Della Ventura

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  1. Giovanna Armiento
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  2. Fabio Bellatreccia
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  5. Elisa Nardi
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Correspondence to Giovanna Armiento.

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Armiento, G., Bellatreccia, F., Cremisini, C. et al. Beryllium natural background concentration and mobility: a reappraisal examining the case of high Be-bearing pyroclastic rocks. Environ Monit Assess 185, 559–572 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2575-3

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