Toxicity of arsenic in relation to soil properties: implications to regulatory purposes

Purpose The present work evaluates the influence of different soil properties and constituents on As solubility in laboratory-contaminated soils, with the aim of assessing the toxicity of this element from the use of bioassays to evaluate the soil leachate toxicity and thereby propose soil guideline values for studies of environmental risk assessment in soil contamination. Materials and methods Seven soils with contrasting properties were artificially contaminated in laboratory with increasing concentrations of As. Samples were incubated for 4 weeks, and afterwards, soil solution (1:1) was obtained after shaking for 24 h. The soil leachate toxicity was assessed with two commonly used bioassays (seed germination test with Lactuca sativa and Microtox (R) test with Vibrio fischeri). Results and discussion The relationship between soluble As and soil properties indicated that iron oxides and organic matter content were the variables most closely related to the reduction of the As solubility, while pH and CaCO3 increased As solubility in the soil solutions. Toxicity bioassays showed significant differences between soils depending on their properties, with a reduction of the toxicity in the iron-rich soil (no observed effect concentration (NOEC)=150 mg kg(-1)) and a significant increase in the highly carbonate samples (NOEC between 15 and 25 mg kg(-1)). Conclusions Soil guideline values for regulatory purposes usually set a single value for large areas (regions or countries) which can produce over-or underestimation of efforts in soil remediation actions. These values should consider different levels according to the main soil properties controlling arsenic mobility and the soil leachate toxicity.