Case study: heavy metals and fluoride contents in the materials of Syrian phosphate industry and in the vicinity of phosphogypsum piles

Abstract

This study focuses on the determination of heavy metals and fluoride concentrations in the Syrian phosphate industry and in the vicinity of the phosphogypsum (PG) piles. Four sampling campaigns were carried out, in which 86 soil, 139 plant, 30 air particulate, 16 water, 12 PG, 6 phosphate ore (raw and treated) and 3 fertilizer samples were collected. Differential pulse anode stripping voltammetry was used for Pb and Cd determination, atomic absorption spectrometry was used for Zn, Cr and Cu determination, and instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for Se, Ni, As and Hg determination. Fluoride concentration was determined via fluoride ion selective electrode. The data revealed that most of the heavy metals were retained in the fertilizer. Fluoride content in PG was 0.47%. The presence of PG piles showed no impact on the run-off and ground and lake waters in the area. However, fluoride concentration was double the permissible airborne threshold in the sites to the east of the PG piles because of the prevailing wind in the region. Similarly, enhanced concentrations of fluoride were recorded for the eastern soil samples. The content of heavy metals in plants was element- and plant-specific and influenced by the element concentration in soil, the soil texture and the pH. The maximal mean of fluoride was found in the plants species of the eastern sites (699 mg kg(-1)), which mainly related to PG erosion and airborne deposition. Thus, the main impact of the PG piles was to increase the concentration of fluoride in the surrounding area. A national action should be taken to regulate PG piles.

Effect of vanadium toxicity at its different oxidation states on selected bacterial and protozoan isolates in wastewater systems

“…have been reported to play an important role in the mobilization and transport of heavy metals in the environment. [4,5] Due to some biochemical activities, heavy metals can be classified as being essential and non-essential to both humans and animals. [6,7] However, essential or not, they are toxic to all forms of life at higher concentrations.…”

Growing Use and Impacts of Chemical Fertilizers and Assessing Alternative Organic Fertilizer Sources in Ethiopia

“…Synthetic fertilizer plays an important role in increasing soil fertility and crop productivity [128,129]. However, excessive and continuous use of fertilizers accumulates contaminants in the soil to a level harmful to the environment (air pollution, soil acidification and degradation, and water eutrophication) [129][130][131][132]. Among inorganic fertilizers, phosphate fertilizers are the major source of contaminants because phosphate fertilizers are mainly produced from apatite; it usually contains small concentrations of heavy metals, on average 11, 25, 188, 32, 10, and 239 mgkg −1 of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), and zinc (Zn), respectively [57,130,131].…”

Pretreatment by recyclable Fe3O4@Mg/Al-CO3-LDH magnetic nano-adsorbent to dephosphorize for the determination of trace F− and Cl− in phosphorus-rich solutions

“…Thus, it is necessary to monitor trace F À and Cl À anions in phosphorus-rich raw materials and nal products. 12 Moreover, hydroxyapatite is a particularly promising bone-graing material for dental and orthopaedic applications. The addition of trace F À can construct a microenvironment favouring bone healing and bone regeneration, 13 but its trace amount must be strictly controlled to avoid cell death or necrosis.…”