Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of water content on aggregation and contaminant leaching: the study of an urban Technosol

  • SEDIMENTS, SEC 3 • SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT AT THE RIVER BASIN SCALE • RESEARCH ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background, aim, and scope

Natural porous material structure is a key parameter in the transport of particles and associated contaminants towards groundwater, and it is a dynamic property that evolves with water content. This study investigates the relationship between aggregation–potential leaching and moisture content.

Materials and methods

To conduct this study, a contaminated urban Technosol originating from stormwater infiltration practice was used: 10–14% organic matter, total organic carbon (TOC): 4–5.6 mg/g, Zn: 1.9–1.25 g/kg, Cd: 9.7–15.0 mg/kg. Five field samplings and a laboratory drying experiment were performed to obtain samples with contrasted moisture contents. Laser diffractometry was used to measure aggregation state and potential leaching was assayed by a low-energy input leaching test and the measurement of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr) and TOC.

Results

The way in which Technosol material forms aggregates while drying is described: microaggregates lead to larger microaggregates, then their association leads to macroaggregates that become increasingly stable. The leaching of particles and contaminants was shown to slow down consecutive to drying (from 53 to 3.3 × 10−5 g of particles leached/mL of leaching solution).

Discussion

Regarding heavy metal mobility, the low-energy input leaching test did not provide the same conclusions as more disturbing methods of risk assessment. The mechanisms of aggregation of Technosol materials consecutive to drying are discussed in comparison to already published works on soil aggregates.

Conclusions

We conclude that moisture content is a key parameter regarding the aggregation of Technosol materials and leaching of particles and associated contaminants. What is more, the recent history of the surface layer of the Technosol must be taken into account.

Recommendations and perspectives

Soil and sediment structure must be taken into account to assess contaminant transfer. Stormwater can be slowed down when it arrives in infiltration basins, in order to limit particle disaggregation and leaching. Further research is needed to understand the different aspects involved in heavy metal partitioning.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AFNOR (1988) Détermination du pH dans l’eau, NF X 31-103, p 11

  • AFNOR (1994) Qualité du sol - Détermination de la teneur pondérale en matière sèche et en eau, NF X 31-102, p 12

  • AFNOR (1995) Qualité du sol - Dosage du carbone organique et du carbone total après combustion sèche (analyse élémentaire), NF ISO 10694, p 12

  • Badin A-L, Delolme C, Bedell J-P (2007) Aggregation and heavy metals distribution in urban storm water sediments. In: Biogeochemistry of trace elements: environmental protection, remediation and human health (icobte), Beijing, pp 582–583

  • Badin A-L, Faure P, Bedell J-P, Delolme C (2008) Distribution of organic pollutants and natural organic matter in urban storm water sediments as a function of grain size. Sci Total Environ 403(1–3):178–187

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Badin A-L, Méderel G, Béchet B, Borschneck D, Delolme C (2009) Study of the aggregation of the surface layer of Technosols from stormwater infiltration basins using grain size analyses with laser diffractometry. Geoderma doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.07.022

  • Bedell J-P, Neto M, Delolme C, Ghidini M, Winiarski T and Perrodin Y (2004) Study if physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of a soil in restored stormwater infiltration basin in the Lyon area. In: GRAIE (ed) Novatech 2004: 5th International Conference on Sustainable Techniques and Strategies in Urban Water Management, Lyon, France, pp 1469–1476

  • Carlosena A, Andrade JM, Prada D (1998) Searching for heavy metals grouping roadside soils as a function of motorized traffic influence. Talanta 47:753–767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Capilla X, Schwartz C, Bedell J-P, Sterckerman T, Perrodin Y, Morel J-L (2006) Physicochemical and biological characterisation of different dredged sediment deposit sites in France. Environ Pollut 143:106–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caron J, Kay BD, Stone JA (1992) Improvement of structural stability of a clay loam with drying. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56(5):1583–1590

    Google Scholar 

  • Christ MJ, David MB (1996) Temperature and moisture effects on the production of dissolved organic carbon in a Spodosol. Soil Biol Biochem 28(9):1191–1199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clozel B, Ruban V, Durand C, Conil P (2006) Origin and mobility of heavy metals in contaminated sediments from retention and infiltration ponds. Appl Geochem 21(10):1781–1798

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courchesne F, Savoie S, Dufresne A (1995) Effects of air-drying on the measurement of soil pH in acidic forest soils of Quebec, Canada. Soil Sci 160(1):56–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Datry T, Malard F, Gibert J (2004) Dynamics of soluted and dissolved oxygen in shallow urban groundwater below a stormwater infiltration basin. Sci Total Environ 329:215–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Novio NM, Saiers JE, Ryan JN (2004) Colloid movement in unsaturated porous media: recent advances and future directions. Vadose Zone J 3:338–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denaix L, Semlali RM, Douay F (2001) Dissolved and colloidal transport of Cd, Pb, and Zn in a silt loam soil affected by atmospheric industrial deposition. Environ Pollut 114(1):29–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durand C, Ruban V, Ambles A, Oudot J (2004) Characterization of the organic matter of sludge: determination of lipids, hydrocarbons and PAHs from road retention/infiltration ponds in France. Environ Pollut 132:375–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durand C, Ruban V, Amblès A (2005) Characterisation of complex organic matter present in contaminated sediments from water retention ponds. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 73:17–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences), ISRIC (International Soil Reference and Information Centre) (2006) World reference base for soil resources. A framework for international classification, correlation and communication, Rome, Italy, p 128. ISBN: 92-5-105511-4. (http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/wrb/doc/wrb2006final.pdf)

  • Gordon H, Haygarth PM, Bardgett RD (2008) Drying and rewetting effects on soil microbial community composition and nutrient leaching. Soil Biol Biochem 40(2):302–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanna K, Lassabatere L, Bechet B (2009) Zinc and lead tranfer in a contaminated roadside soil: experimental study and modeling. J Hazard Mater 161:1499–1505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hattori T (1988) Soil aggregates as microhabitats of microorganisms. Rep Inst Agr Res Tohoku Univ 37:23–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Hentschel K, Borken W, Matzner E (2007) Leaching losses of inorganic N and DOC following repeated drying and wetting of a spruce forest soil. Plant Soil 300(1–2):21–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hussein J, Adey MA (1998) Changes in microstructure, voids and b-fabric of surface samples of a Vertisol caused by wet/dry cycles. Geoderma 85(1):63–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jartun M, Ottesen RT, Steinnes E, Volden T (2008) Runoff of particle bound pollutants from urban impervious surfaces studied by analysis of sediments from stormwater traps. Sci Total Environ 396(2–3):147–163

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kay BD, Dexter AR (1990) Influence of aggregate diameter, surface area and antecedent water content on the dispersibility of clay. Can J Soil Sci 70(4):655–671

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemper WD, Rosenau RC (1984) Soil cohesion as affected by time and water content. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48(5):1001–1006

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemper WD, Rosenau RC, Dexter AR (1987) Cohesion development in disrupted soils as affected by clay and organic matter content and temperature. Soil Sci Soc Am J 51(4):860–867

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaergaard C, de Jonge LW, Moldrup P, Schjønning P (2004a) Water dispersible colloids: effects of measurement method, clay content, initial soil matric potential, and wetting rate. Vadose Zone J 3:403–412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaergaard C, Poulsen TG, Moldrup P, de Jonge LW (2004b) Colloid mobilization and transport in undisturbed soil columns. I. Pore structure characterization and tritium transport. Vadose Zone J 3:413–423

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klitzke S, Lang F (2007) Hydrophobicity of soil colloids and heavy metal mobilization: effects of drying. J Environ Qual 36(4):1187–1193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lægdsmand M, Villholth KG, Ullum M, Jensen KH (1999) Processes of colloid mobilization and transport in macroporous soil monoliths. Geoderma 93(1–2):33–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lassabatere L, Angulo-Jaramillo R, Winiarski T, Delolme C (2007) Hydraulic characterization of settled sediment layer and subsoil in an urban infiltration basin. In: Novatech 2007: 6th International Conference on Sustainable Techniques and Strategies in Urban Water Management, Lyon, France, pp 583–590

  • Lundquist EJ, Jackson LE, Scow KM (1999) Wet–dry cycles affect dissolved organic carbon in two California agricultural soils. Soil Biol Biochem 31(7):1031–1038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majdalani S, Michel E, Di-Pietro L, Angulo-Jaramillo R (2008) Effects of wetting and drying cycles on in situ soil particle mobilization. Eur J Soil Sci 59(2):147–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsalek J, Watt WE, Anderson BC (2006) Trace metal levels in sediments deposited in urban stormwater management facilities. Water Sci Technol 2:175–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Mc Carthy JF, Zachara JM (1989) Subsurface transport of contaminants: mobile colloids in the subsurface environment may alter the transport of contaminants. Environ Sci Technol 23(5):496–502

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mc Carthy JF, MCKay LD (2004) Colloid transport in the subsurface: past, present, and future challenges. Vadose Zone J 3:326–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murakami M, Nakajima F, Furumai H (2008) The sorption of heavy metal species by sediments in soakaways receiving urban road runoff. Chemosphere 70(11):2099–2109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nabulo G, Oryem-Origa H, Diamond M (2006) Assessment of lead, cadmium, and zinc contamination of roadside soils, surface films, and vegetables in Kampala City, Uganda. Environ Res 101:42–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neto M, Ohannessian A, Delolme C, Bedell J-P (2007) Towards an optimized protocol for measuring global dehydrogenase activity in storm-water sediments. J Soils Sediments 7(2):101–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nogaro G, Mermillod-Blondin F, Montuelle B, Boisson J-C, Bedell J-P, Ohannessian A, Volat B, Gibert J (2007a) Influence of a stormwater sediment deposit on microbial and biogeochemical processes in infiltration porous media. Sci Total Environ 377(2–3):334–348

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nogaro G, Mermillod-Blondin F, Montuelle B, Boisson J-C, Lafont M, Volat B, Gibert J (2007b) Do tubificid worms influence organic matter processing and fate of pollutants in stormwater sediments deposited at the surface of infiltration systems? Chemosphere 70(2):315–328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pires LF, Bacchi OOS, Reichardt K (2007) Assessment of soil structure repair due to wetting and drying cycles through 2D tomographic image analysis. Soil Tillage Res 94(2):537–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitt R, Clark S, Field R (1999) Groundwater contamination potential from stormwater infiltration practices. Urban Water 1:217–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajaram G, Erbach DC (1999) Effect of wetting and drying on soil physical properties. J Terramechanics 36(1):39–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjard L, Richaume A, Jocteur Monrozier L, Nazaret S (1997) Response of soil bacteria to Hg(II) in relation to soil characteristics and cell location. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 24:321–331

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R DevelopmentCoreTeam (2005) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria

  • Udawatta RP, Kremer RJ, Adamson BW, Anderson SH (2008) Variations in soil aggregate stability and enzyme activities in a temperate agroforestry practice. Appl Soil Ecol 39(2):153–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Westerhof R, Buurman P, van Griethuysen C, Ayarza M, Vilela L, Zech W (1999) Aggregation studied by laser diffraction in relation to plowing and liming in the Cerrado region in Brazil. Geoderma 90:277–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winiarski T, Bedell JP, Delolme C, Perrodin Y (2006) The impact of stormwater on a soil profile in an infiltration basin. Hydrogeol J 14:1244–1251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement, ENTPE Vaulx en Velin, Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69003, France

    Anne-Laure Badin, Jean-Philippe Bedell & Cécile Delolme

Authors
  1. Anne-Laure Badin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean-Philippe Bedell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cécile Delolme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne-Laure Badin.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Bernhard Westrich

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Badin, AL., Bedell, JP. & Delolme, C. Effect of water content on aggregation and contaminant leaching: the study of an urban Technosol. J Soils Sediments 9, 653–663 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-009-0128-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-009-0128-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation