Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Macroscopic and molecular-scale assessment of soil lead contamination impacted by seasonal dove hunting activities

  • SOILS, SEC 3 • REMEDIATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONTAMINATED OR DEGRADED LANDS • RESEARCH ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Environmental contamination of lead (Pb) in soils and sediments poses serious threats to human and ecological health. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of seasonal dove sports hunting activities on Pb contamination in acid forest soils.

Materials and methods

A grid sampling method was used to investigate the spatial distribution of Pb contamination in surface soils. Soils were analyzed for total metal(loid) concentration and characterized for physicochemical properties and mineralogy. Adsorption isotherm experiments were also conducted to understand the reactivity and retention capacity of Pb(II) in soils. Finally, synchrotron-based X-ray microprobe and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were used to understand the chemical speciation of Pb that controls the retention/release mechanisms of Pb in soils.

Results and discussion

There was no excessive accumulation of Pb at the site. However, the concentration of Pb in surface soils was greater than the background level (<16 mg kg−1). The contamination level of Pb was as high as 67 mg kg−1 near a patch of corn field where lime was frequently applied. A microfocused X-ray microprobe analysis showed the presence of Pb pellet fragments that predominantly contain oxidized Pb(II), suggesting that oxidative dissolution was occurring in soils. Dissolved Pb(II) can be readily retained in soils up to ~3,600 mg kg−1 via inner-sphere and outer-sphere surface complexation on carbon and aluminol functional groups of soil components, suggesting that partitioning reactions control the concentration of Pb in soil solution.

Conclusions

The fate of Pb is likely to be controlled by (1) oxidative dissolution process of Pb(0) pellets and (2) the release of outer-sphere and/or inner-sphere Pb surface complexes in humic substances and aluminosilicate/Al oxyhydroxides. Although no remedial actions are immediately required, the long-term accumulation of Pb in soils should be carefully monitored in protecting ecosystem and water quality at the dove hunting field.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amacher MC (1996) Nickel, cadmium, and lead. In: Sparks DL (ed) Methods of soil analysis: chemical methods, part 3. SSSA and ASA, Madison, pp 739–768

    Google Scholar 

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (1993) Lead poisoning: from screening to primary prevention. AAP, Elk Grove

    Google Scholar 

  • Arai Y, McBeath M, Bargar JR, Joye J, Davis JA (2006) Uranyl adsorption and surface speciation at the imogolite-water interface: self-consistent spectroscopic and surface complexation models. Geochimica Cosmochim Acta 70:2492–2509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arai Y, Marcus M, Tamura N, Davis JA, Zachara JM (2007) Spectroscopic evidence for uranium copper bearing minerals in vadose zone sediments at Hanford DOE Site, Washington. Environ Sci Technol 41:4633–4639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balistrieria LS, Murray JW (1982) The adsorption of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd on goethite from major ion seawater. Geochemica Cosmochim Acta 46:1253–1265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bargar JR, Towle SN Jr, Brown GE Jr, Parks GA (1996) Outer-sphere Pb(II) adsorbed at specific surface sites on single crystal α-alumina. Geochimica Cosmochm Acta 60:3541–3547

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bargar JR, Brown GR Jr, Parks GA (1997a) Surface complexation of Pb(II) at oxide-water interfaces. II. XAFS and bond valence determination of mononuclear Pb(II) sorption products and surface functional groups on iron oxides. Geochimica Cosmochim Acta 61:2639–2652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bargar JR, Brown GR Jr, Parks GA (1997b) Surface complexation of Pb(II) at oxide-water interfaces: I. XAFS and bond-valence determination of mononuclear and polynuclear Pb(II) sorption products on aluminum oxides. Geochimica Cosmochim Acta 61:2617–2637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Body PE, Inglis G, Dolan PR, Mulcahy DE (1991) Environmental lead: a review. Crit Rev Environ Control 20:299–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchauer MJ (1973) Contamination of soil and vegetation near a zinc smelter by zinc, cadmium, copper, and lead. Environ Sci Technol 7:131–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaney RL et al (1984) The potential for heavy metal exposure from urban gardens and soils. In: Preer JR (ed) Proceedings of the symposium on heavy metals in urban gardens. University of the District of Columbia, Washington, Agricultural Experiment Station, pp 37–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Guzman M, Celis R, Hermosin MC, Leone P, Negre M, Cornejo J (2003) Sorption-desorption of lead (II) and mercury (II) by model associations of soil colloids. Soil Sci Soc Am J 67(5):1378–1387

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duggan MJ, Williams S (1977) Lead in dust in city streets. Sci Total Environ 7:91–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elkhatib EA, Elshebiny GM, Balba AM (1991) Lead sorption in calcareous soils. Environ Pollut 69:269–276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elzinga EJ, Sparks DL (2002) X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of the effects of pH and ionic strenght on Pb(II) sorption to amorphous silica. Environ Sci Technol 36:4352–4357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher IJ, Pain DJ, Thomas VG (2006) A review of lead poisoning from ammunition sources in terrestrial birds. Biolog Conserv 131:421–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gharaie HA (2009) Lead adsorption characteristics of selected calcareous soils of Iran and their relationship with soil properties. Am-Euras J Agric Environ Sci 6:637–641

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grove JH, Fowler CS, Sumner ME (1982) Determination of the charge character of selected acid soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 46:32–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Impellitteri CA, Lu YF, Saxe JK, Allen HE, Peijnenburg WJGM (2002) Correlation of the partitioning of dissolved organic matter fractions with the desorption of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn from 18 Dutch soils. Environ Int 28(5):401–410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MS, Eaton JW (1980) Environmental contamination through residual trace metal dispersal from a derelict lead-zinc mine. J Environ Qual 9:175–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen SS, Willems M (1987) The fate of lead in soils—the transformation of lead pellets in shooting-range soils. Ambio 16:11–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinniburgh DG, Jackson ML, Syers JK (1976) Adsorption of alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metal cations by hydrous oxide gels of iron and aluminum. Soil Sci Soc Am J 40:796–800

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levonmäki M, Hartikainen H (2007) Efficiency of liming in controlling the mobility of lead in shooting range soils as assessed by different experimental approaches. Sci Total Environ 388(1–3):1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeppert RH, Inskeep WO (1996) Iron. In: Sparks DL (ed) Method of soil analysis. Part 3: chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America, Inc. American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Madison, pp 649–650

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhaven S et al (1989) Lead in soil: recommended maximum permissible levels. Environ Res 49:136–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manceau A et al (1996) Direct determination of lead speciation in contaminated soils by EXAFS spectroscopy. Environ Sci Technol 30:1540–1552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McBride MB (1994) Environmental chemistry of soils. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin WL, Parker RR, Clarke JM (1999) Metals and micronutrients-food safety issues. Field Crop Res 60:143–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1996) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Sparks DL (ed) Methods of soil analysis: chemical methods, part 3. SSSA and ASA, Madison, pp 961–1010

    Google Scholar 

  • Pain DJ, Handrinos GI (1990) The incident of ingested lead shot in ducks of the Evros Delta, Greece. Wildfowl 41:167–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Reagan PL, Silbergeld EK (1989) Establishing a health based standard for lead in residential soils. In: Hemphill and Cothern (eds) Trace substances in environmental health, supplement to vol 12 (1990) of environmental geochemistry and health

  • Rice DA, McLoughlin MF, Blanchflower WJ, Thompson TR (1987) Chronic lead-poisoning in steers eating silage contaminated with lead shot diagnostic-criteria. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 39:622–629

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rooney CP, McLaren RG, Cresswell RJ (1999) Distribution and phytoavailability of lead in a soil contaminated with lead shot. Water Air Soil Pollut 116:535–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rose AW, Bianchi-Mosquera GC (1993) Adsorption of Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Ni, and Ag on goethite and hematite; a control on metal mobilization from red beds into stratiform copper deposits. Econ Geol 88:1226–1236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheinost AC, Abend S, Pandya KI, Sparks DL (2001) Kinetic controls on Cu and Pb sorption by ferrihydrite. Environ Eng Sci 35:1090–1096

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sorvari J (2007) Environmental risks at Finnish shooting ranges—a case study. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 13:1111–1146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks DL (1995) Environmental soil chemistry. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Sposito G (1989) The chemistry of soils. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Strawn DG, Sparks DL (1999) The use of XAFS to distinguish between inner- and outer-sphere lead adsorption complexes on montmorillonite. J Colloid Interf Sci 216:257–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strawn DG, Sparks DL (2000) Effects of soil organic matter on the kinetics and mechanisms of Pb(II) sorption and desorption in soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 64:144–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trivedi P, Dyer JA, Sparks DL (2003) Lead sorption onto ferrihydrite. 1. A macroscopic and spectroscopic assessment. Environ Sci Technol 37:908–914

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA-902-B-01-001 January 2001 Region 2. Best Management Practices for Lead at Outdoor Shooting Ranges. United States Environmental Protection Agency Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance RCRA Compliance Branch 290 Broadway 22nd Fl. New York, New York 10007–1866

    Google Scholar 

  • Vantelon D, Lanzirotti A, Scheinost AC, Kretzschmar R (2005) Spatial distribution and speciation of lead around corroding bullets in a shooting range soil studied by micro-X-ray fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. Environ Sci Technol 39:4808–4815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SW, Hu J, Li JX, Dong YH (2009) Influence of pH, soil humic/fulvic acid, ionic strength, foreign ions and addition sequences on adsorption of Pb(II) onto GMZ bentonite. J Hazard Mater 167(1–3):44–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb SM (2005) A graphical user interface for XAS analysis using IFEFFIT. Physica Scripta T115:1011–1014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xia K, Bleam WF, Helmke PA (1997) Studies of the nature of Cu2+ and Pb2+ binding sites in soil humic substances using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Geochimica Cosmochm Acta 61:2211–2221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the Clemson University Undergraduate Creative Inquiry research funds. The authors thank the undergraduate students from the Department of Biosystems Engineering for assisting the sieving and drying processes of soils. Portions of this research were performed at BL X27A, NSLS, Brookhaven National Laboratory. The BL X27A is supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), geosciences (DE-FG02-92ER14244 to the University of Chicago—CARS) and Brookhaven National Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences. The use of the NSLS was supported by the U.S. DOE, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under contract no. DE-AC02-98CH10886.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Soils and Plant Sciences, Clemson University, 270 Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC, USA

    Yuji Arai & Allison R. Rick

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Tessa Saylor

  3. Department of Biosystems Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Emily Faas

  4. National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA

    Ryan Tappero

  5. Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Antonio Lanzirotti

Authors
  1. Yuji Arai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Allison R. Rick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tessa Saylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emily Faas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ryan Tappero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Antonio Lanzirotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuji Arai.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Jiangming Xu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arai, Y., Rick, A.R., Saylor, T. et al. Macroscopic and molecular-scale assessment of soil lead contamination impacted by seasonal dove hunting activities. J Soils Sediments 11, 968–979 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-011-0374-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-011-0374-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation