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The effect of earthworms on roadway-derived Zn deposited as a surface layer in storm water retention basin soils

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Abstract

Increased urban development, including an increase in impervious surfaces has the potential to alter the biogeochemistry of surface systems due to storm water runoff contaminated with potentially toxic trace metals (e.g. Zn, Cu and Pb). A major source for urban metals is dust that accumulates on roadways. This roadway dust is derived from vehicle wear sources and tends to be enriched in trace metals such as Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni and Cr. This continuous source is then being transported via storm water runoff to receiving systems, such as storm water retention systems, which become important focusing environments for trace metal deposition. The fate of these roadway derived metals and their bioavailability once deposited in these urban ecosystems is not well understood. In this investigation we tested the hypothesis that the distribution and form of surface deposited roadway-derived Zn is a function of earthworm processes and is species dependent. The results of this investigation indicate that roadway dust derived Zn deposited as a surface layer on urban soils is readily removed from the surface in less than 30 days whether earthworms are present or not. However, after 90 days, the presence of earthworms and the life habit of the earthworm species present was found to have a significant impact on the physical and chemical cycling of roadway derived trace metals in storm water retention basin soils.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Dr. Allen Davis from the University of Maryland, College Park for their support with this project and access to the field sites. Towson University and the US Geological Survey supplied funding to support this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urban Biogeochemistry Laboratory, Towson University, Towson, MD, 21252, USA

    Whitney Carroll, Joel W. Snodgrass, Ryan E. Casey & Steven M. Lev

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA

    Katalin Szlavecz

  3. US Geologic Survey, Water Resources National Research Program, Reston, VA, USA

    Edward R. Landa

Authors
  1. Whitney Carroll
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  2. Joel W. Snodgrass
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  3. Katalin Szlavecz
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  4. Edward R. Landa
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  5. Ryan E. Casey
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  6. Steven M. Lev
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Correspondence to Steven M. Lev.

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Carroll, W., Snodgrass, J.W., Szlavecz, K. et al. The effect of earthworms on roadway-derived Zn deposited as a surface layer in storm water retention basin soils. Urban Ecosyst 17, 825–838 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-014-0355-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-014-0355-2

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