Arsenic Transport and Transformation Associated with MSMA Application on a Golf Course Green

Abstract

The impact of extensively used arsenic-containing herbicides on groundwater beneath golf courses has become a topic of interest. Although currently used organoarsenicals are less toxic, their application into the environment may produce the more toxic inorganic arsenicals. The objective of this work was to understand the behavior of arsenic species in percolate water from monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) applied golf course greens, as well as to determine the influences of rootzone media for United State Golf Association (USGA) putting green construction on arsenic retention and species conversion. The field test was established at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC), University of Florida. Percolate water was collected after MSMA application for speciation and total arsenic analyses. The results showed that the substrate composition significantly influenced arsenic mobility and arsenic species transformation in the percolate water. In comparison to uncoated sands (S) and uncoated sands and peat (S + P), naturally coated sands and peat (NS + P) showed a higher capacity of preventing arsenic from leaching into percolate water, implying that the coatings of sands with clay reduce arsenic leaching. Arsenic species transformation occurred in soil, resulting in co-occurrence of four arsenic species, arsenite (As III ), arsenate (As V ), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in percolate water. The results indicated that substrate composition can significantly affect both arsenic retention in soil and arsenic speciation in percolate water. The clay coatings on the soil particles and the addition of peat in the soil changed the arsenic bioavailability, which in turn controlled the microorganism-mediated arsenic transformation. To better explain and understand arsenic transformation and transport after applying MSMA in golf green, a conceptual model was proposed.

Distribution of arsenic and risk assessment of activities on a golf course fertilised with arsenic-containing Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed

“…However, over the past few decades, As contamination of golf course soils due 69 to the use of As-based pesticides has become a topic of interest (Cai et al 2002;Feng et al 2005; 70 Pichler et al 2008). In general, most studies of As based pesticide application to golf course soils 71 have observed As contamination of underlying groundwater (Cai et al 2002;Feng et al 2005). The 72 manufactured herbicide monosodium methyl arsenate (MSMA) for example, uses organic As species 73 as its active ingredient and has been observed to leave a residue in amended soils (Rahman et al 74 2012).…”

“…The 72 manufactured herbicide monosodium methyl arsenate (MSMA) for example, uses organic As species 73 as its active ingredient and has been observed to leave a residue in amended soils (Rahman et al 74 2012). Although organic As is not toxic to humans, it can change speciation in soil environments to a 75 more toxic inorganic form following a series of chemical processes (Feng et al 2005; U.S. factor of 10 -3 to 10 -4 . This has also been supported by similar research data (Cohen et al, 2002).…”

“…The presence of As in golf course soils from seaweed fertiliser application has 68 not yet been studied. However, over the past few decades, As contamination of golf course soils due 69 to the use of As-based pesticides has become a topic of interest (Cai et al 2002;Feng et al 2005; 70…”

“…In general, most studies of As based pesticide application to golf course soils 71 have observed As contamination of underlying groundwater (Cai et al 2002;Feng et al 2005). The 72 manufactured herbicide monosodium methyl arsenate (MSMA) for example, uses organic As species 73 as its active ingredient and has been observed to leave a residue in amended soils (Rahman et al 74 2012).…”

“…The presence of As in golf course soils from seaweed fertiliser application has 68 not yet been studied. However, over the past few decades, As contamination of golf course soils due 69 to the use of As-based pesticides has become a topic of interest (Cai et al 2002;Feng et al 2005; 70 Pichler et al 2008). In general, most studies of As based pesticide application to golf course soils 71 have observed As contamination of underlying groundwater (Cai et al 2002;Feng et al 2005).…”