Woody biomass phytoremediation of contaminated brownfield land

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2006-06, Vol.141 (3), p.387-395
• Main Authors: French, Christopher J., Dickinson, Nicholas M., Putwain, Philip D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alnus; Applied sciences; arsenic; Betula; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Brownfield; brownfields; cadmium; Copper; Coppice; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment and pollution; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Heavy metals; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industry; Larix; lead; Metals, Heavy; Miscellaneous; nickel; phytoremediation; polluted soils; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Populus; Production. Biomass; Salix; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants; soil pollution; Time Factors; Trees; uptake mechanisms; Zinc
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.08.065

Economic and environmental regeneration of post-industrial landscapes frequently involves some element of re-afforestation or tree planting. We report field trials that evaluate whether woody biomass production is compatible with managing residual trace element contamination in brownfield soils. Large-scale mapping of contamination showed a heterogenous dispersion of metals and arsenic, and highly localised within-site hotspots. Yields of Salix, Populus and Alnus were economically viable, showing that short-rotation coppice has a potentially valuable role in community forestry. Mass balance modelling demonstrated that phytoextraction potentially could reduce contamination hotspots of more mobile elements (Cd and Zn) within a 25–30-year life cycle of the crops. Cd and Zn in stems and foliage of Salix were 4–13 times higher than EDTA-extractable soil concentrations. Lability of other trace elements (As, Pb, Cu, Ni) was not increased 3 years after planting the coppice; woody biomass may provide an effective reduction of exposure (phytostabilisation) to these less mobile contaminants. Field trials show short-rotation coppice provides effective risk management and remediation solutions to hotspots of residual metal and As contamination of brownfield land.