Anne Vindenes Allen

Selected Peer-Reviewed Papers from the Arsenic Session of the 6th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, July 29&#x2013;August 2, 2001, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Arsenopyrite (FeAsS) is the principal arsenic (As) mineral in mineralised mesothermal veins (typically 5,000 mg/kg As) in southeastern New Zealand. Groundwater in contact with arsenopyrite-bearing rocks has elevated As concentrations (up to 0.1 mg/l). The arsenopyrite decomposes slowly on oxidation in soils and historic mine workings in a cool semiarid climate. Dissolved As is predominantly As(III) in association with arsenopyrite, but this is rapidly oxidised over days to weeks to As(V) in the vadose zone. Oxidation is facilitated by particulate Fe and/or Mn oxyhydroxides, and by bacteria in surface waters. Evaporative concentration of dissolved As(V) in the vadose zone causes precipitation of scorodite (Fe(III)As(V)O4.2H2O). Adsorption of As(V) to Fe oxyhydroxides in soils and groundwater pathways lowers dissolved As concentrations. Soils over mineralised veins typically have &lt;200 mg/kg As, as most As is removed in solution on geological time scales. Most plants on the mineralised rocks and soils do not take up As, although some inedible species can fix up to 18 mg/kg As. Hence, bioavailability of As(V) is low in this environment, despite the substantial As flux.Similar As mobility is seen in an active gold mine processing plant and tailings. Arsenopyrite dissolves more rapidly on agitation, and mine waters can have dissolved As &gt;200 mg/l, predominantly as As(V). This dissolved As decreases in tailings waters to near 2 mg/l, mainly as As(III) when in contact with arsenopyrite. Weak oxidation of evaporatively dried tailings causes cementation with scorodite and iron oxyhydroxides, and scorodite precipitation exerts some control on dissolved As(V) concentrations. High dissolved As in mine waters is lowered by adsorption to iron oxyhydroxides, and waters discharged from the mine site have negligible dissolved As.

D. Craw

L. Pacheco

Mobilisation and Bioavailability of Arsenic Around Mesothermal Gold Deposits in a Semiarid Environment, Otago, New Zealand

There are many challenges in the determination of arsenic background concentrations in soils. However, these challenges are magnified when those determinations are carried out on urban soils. Irrespective of this, it is important to correctly identify and understand the extent of pollution in order to provide efficient preventative, remedial actions and cost-effective management of contaminated areas. This review paper discusses the factors that make the determination of arsenic background concentrations in urban areas different from similar determinations in nonurban areas. It also proposes solutions, where applicable, that are based on experience in determining arsenic background concentrations in both urban and nonurban areas in Florida, and from other studies in the literature. Urban soils are considerably different from nonurban areas because they have significant human disturbance, making them more difficult to study. They are characterized by high spatial and temporal variability, compaction, and modified chemical and physical characteristics. These differences have to be addressed during site selection, sample collection, and statistical analyses when determining arsenic distribution.

Tait Chirenje

L.Q. Ma

E.J. Zillioux

Determining Arsenic Distribution in Urban Soils: A Comparison with Nonurban Soils

For the last 2 decades, special attention has been paid to arsenic due to its high concentration in groundwater in many regions of the globe. There are not very many reports on arsenic concentration in the Finnish ecosystem, although the metal has been known to be highly toxic since ancient times. For the majority of people in Finland, the leading exposure route to arsenic is through food consumption.In this study, it has been observed that atmospheric emissions of arsenic from anthropogenic sources have decreased by 90%, which is due to better control technology and strict regulation. Aquatic discharge also was attenuated from 7.1 metric tons (t) in 1990 to 0.7 t in 1999. The concentration of arsenic aerosols in the atmosphere in Finland varies between 0.46 to 0.75 ng m&#x2013;3. Its use in pesticides and insecticides also has been phased out in Finland. There is no information available regarding arsenic species in the Finnish environment.Elevated concentrations of arsenic in groundwater has been reported for many countries. In Finland two hot spots are reported &#x2013; one in the south of Finland and the second in Lapland. In these areas, arsenic concentration in well water is greater than 10 &#x3BC;g l&#x2013;1 (WHO recommended value: &#x3C;10 &#x3BC;g l&#x2013;1). It is believed that the release of arsenic into the Finnish groundwater is geogenic.

Arun B. Mukherjee

Prosun Bhattacharya

Atmospheric Emissions, Depositions, and Transformations of Arsenic in Natural Ecosystem in Finland

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Arsenic: A Themed Collection of Papers from the 6th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, 2001

Arsenic: A Themed Collection of Papers from the 6th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, 2001

Articles

Selected Peer-Reviewed Papers from the Arsenic Session of the 6th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, July 29–August 2, 2001, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Mobilisation and Bioavailability of Arsenic Around Mesothermal Gold Deposits in a Semiarid Environment, Otago, New Zealand

Determining Arsenic Distribution in Urban Soils: A Comparison with Nonurban Soils

Atmospheric Emissions, Depositions, and Transformations of Arsenic in Natural Ecosystem in Finland