Arsenic Addition to Soils from Airborne Coal Dust Originating at a Major Coal Shipping Terminal

Abstract

Soil samples were collected from Norfolk, Virginia in order to examine the extent of particulate coal, and associated arsenic (As) deposition to local soils. The particulate coal originates from the adjacent coal shipping terminal at the Lambert's Point Docks, which is the largest marine coal shipping terminal in the Northern Hemisphere. Particulate coal was separated from soil samples using heavy liquid (i.e., sodium polytungstate) extraction. Sand-sized coal separates isolated from the soil samples were subsequently digested using concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid, and analyzed for As by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). Selected total soil digests were also analyzed for As by HR-ICP-MS. Results indicate particulate coal ranges from less than 1% up to ∼20%, by weight, of the soil samples analyzed. Arsenic concentrations in sand-sized particulate coal extracted from these sediments range from undetectable levels (i.e., <3 ng/kg) up to 17.4 mg/kg, whereas total As concentrations in the soils range from 3 to 30.5 mg/kg. The data indicate that particulate coal originating at the Lambert's Point Docks is an additional source of As to local soils, especially sites proximal to the shipping terminal. Although the particulate coal itself likely poses only minor health hazards (if any), the environmental consequences of As transported with the particulate coal is not known.

Evaluating Threats in Multinational Marine Ecosystems: A Coast Salish First Nations and Tribal Perspective

“…It is clear that coal will likely enter the marine ecosystem from new coal loading facilities [ 31 , 57 ]. Data from other parts of the country suggest that coal particulate matter has the potential to transport arsenic into soils, which could impact marine organisms and or potentially contaminate shellfish or finfish [ 58 ]. Alternately, coal particles could absorb PAHs and other similar chemicals from the environment similar to activated carbon [ 59 ].…”

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

“…K, Mn, Ni, Cr, V, Fe, Cu and in particular As. [206][207][208] Chipley and coworkers coupled an online leaching system of soils to an ICP-SFMS unit in order to obtain realtime leaching data. 209 Prohaska et al discussed the application of high mass resolution for the accurate determination of REE.…”

“…448 Due to the fact, that three of the four stable Pb isotopes ( 206 Pb, 207 Pb and 208 Pb) are produced from radioactive decay of uranium and thorium isotopes, crustal Pb and ore Pb show considerable differences in their isotopic compositions, caused by different ages and the different chemical composition of the original material. Consequently, it is quite straightforward to discriminate between ''natural'' geogenic Pb (crustal signature) and anthropogenic, mined Pb (ore signature) in different environmental compartments and to deduce the relative contributions of the sources.…”

Inductively coupled plasma- and glow discharge plasma-sector field mass spectrometry : Part II. Applications

“…High mass resolution was used for a number of interfered elements, e.g., K, Mn, Ni, Cr, V, Fe, Cu and in particular As. [69][70][71] Chipley and co-workers coupled an on-line leaching system of soils to an ICP-SFMS unit in order to obtain real-time leaching data. 72 Prohaska and co-workers discussed the application of high mass resolution for the accurate determination of REE, measured both at high mass resolution and after separation.…”