Zinc−Sulfur and Cadmium−Sulfur Association in Metalliferous Peats:  Evidence from Spectroscopy, Distribution Coefficients, and Phytoavailability

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2002-09, Vol.36 (17), p.3683-3689
• Main Authors: MartÍnez, Carmen Enid, McBride, Murray B, Kandianis, Michael T, Duxbury, John M, Yoon, Soh-joung, Bleam, William F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological Availability; Brassica napus - metabolism; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Cadmium - chemistry; Cadmium - pharmacokinetics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Metals; New York; Ontario; Oxidation-Reduction; Plant Shoots - metabolism; Pollution, environment geology; Scientific imaging; Soil and rock geochemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; Soils; Solubility; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; Sulfur; Sulfur - analysis; Sulfur - chemistry; Sulfur - pharmacokinetics; Surficial geology; Zea mays - metabolism; Zinc; Zinc - analysis; Zinc - chemistry; Zinc - pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es011333e

Peat deposits can concentrate chalcophilic metals such as Zn and Cd by biogeochemical processes; as a result, there is a possibility that the solubility, mobility, and bioavailability of these metals could increase when such deposits are drained and cropped, initiating oxidation of organic matter and sulfides under aerobic conditions. We use spectroscopic, chemical, and bioassay approaches to characterize high Zn (88−15 800 mg kg-1), Cd (0.55−83.0 mg kg-1), and S (3.52−9.54 g kg-1) peat soils collected from locations in New York State and Ontario that overlie Silurian-age metal-enriched dolomite bedrock. Total and KNO3-extractable trace metals were determined by ICP emission spectrometry, and labile Cd and Zn were measured in the KNO3 extracts by anodic stripping voltammetry. A greenhouse bioassay with maize and canola was conducted to determine the bioavailability and toxicity of the soil Zn and Cd. The electronic oxidation states of sulfur in the peat soils were determined by X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and Zn and S distribution in soil particles by energy-dispersive X-ray absorption (EDX) spectroscopy. Sulfur-XANES analyses show that a high percentage (35−45%) of the total soil S exists in the most reduced electronic oxidation states (such as sulfides and thiols), while