Identification of Metals Contamination in Firing-Range Soil Using Geochemical Correlation Evaluation

Thorbjornsen, Karen; Myers, Jonathan

doi:10.1080/15320380701404391

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Geochemical trace metal/reference metal loglog associations are usually illustrated with Fe, Al, or Mn as the representative soil reference metal. Similar trace metal associations have consistently been observed for Fe (Hamon et al 2004;Myers and Thorbjornsen 2004;Thorbjornsen and Myers 2007a), Al (Klassen 1998;Myers and Thorbjornsen 2004;Thorbjornsen and Myers 2007b), and Mn (Hamon et al 2004;Sterckeman et al 2006;Thorbjornsen and Myers 2007b;Tongtavee et al 2005). In fact, little discussion in the literature is given regarding compositional differences in Fe, Al, and Mn among soils in geochemical evaluations.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 57%

Evaluation of geochemical associations as a screening tool for identifying anthropogenic trace metal contamination

Anderson

Kravitz

2009

Environ Monit Assess

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Geochemical association plots are used as a screening tool for environmental site assessments and use empirical log-log relationships between total trace metal concentrations and concentrations of a major (i.e., reference) soil metal constituent, such as iron (Fe), to discern sites with naturally elevated trace metal levels from sites with anthropogenic contamination. Log-log relationships have been consistently observed between trace metal and reference metal concentrations and are often considered constant. Consequently, we used a regional geochemistry data set to evaluate background trace metal/Fe log-log associations across soils with highly diverse composition. Our results indicate that, although geochemical associations may be proportional, they significantly differ across predominant United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil orders. This suggests that highly complex interactions between soil-forming factors and variable secondary clay mineral composition affect the ratio of trace metals to Fe concentrations in soils. Also, intra-order variability in trace metal/Fe ratios generally ranged multiple orders of magnitude which suggest that the order level of the USDA soil taxonomic system is insufficient to reasonably classify background trace metal concentrations. Consequently, geochemical association plots are a useful screening tool for environmental site assessments, but ubiquitous application of generic background metal data sets could result in erroneous conclusions. Because significantly different ratios were observed across predominant USDA soil orders, an agglomerative clustering technique was used to elucidate hierarchical patterns of association. We present these results as a mechanism to aid environmental assessors in screening candidate background metal data sets for their applicability to site-specific soil composition; although site-specific background metal data should be utilized if ample pristine reference sites with similar (i.e., sub-order) soil composition can be identified and sampled.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 57%

Evaluation of geochemical associations as a screening tool for identifying anthropogenic trace metal contamination

Anderson

Kravitz

2009

Environ Monit Assess

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“… Clay minerals in the pH range of 6 to 8 have a strongly net negative surface charge and attract positively charged trace metal ions, so these trace metals adsorb to clay mineral surfaces. Aluminum is a primary component of all clay minerals, and detected Al concentrations in sediment serve as proxy indicators of the relative amounts of clay minerals (Myers and Thorbjornsen ; Thorbjornsen and Myers ). In addition, Al concentrations are generally not influenced by chemical releases, and the element is not redox‐active.…”

Section: Considerations In Data Review and Evaluation For The Determimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geochemical evaluation is a tool used to evaluate elemental (i.e., metals) concentrations in a given data set, which may include exceedances of representative background concentrations (Myers and Thorbjornsen ; Thorbjornsen and Myers ). Consideration of geochemistry in the evaluation of trace metals concentrations in sediments does not require background reference area data for comparison, so, advantageously, it can be used when it is not otherwise possible to identify background reference areas.…”

Section: Considerations In Data Review and Evaluation For The Determimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geochemical evaluation can be used to determine whether trace metal concentration values identified as outliers by statistical methods are actually the result of a release from the site or are simply manifestations of the geochemical variability in the site data set. When properly performed, geochemical evaluation provides mechanistic explanations for elevated concentrations (Myers and Thorbjornsen ; Thorbjornsen and Myers ). It is important to keep in mind that geochemical evaluation is not a simple graphical technique; all potential geochemical mechanisms, field observations, and available data need to be considered when examining element concentrations.…”

Section: Considerations In Data Review and Evaluation For The Determimentioning

confidence: 99%

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Important considerations in the derivation of background at sediment sites

Geiselbrecht¹,

Rouhani²,

Thorbjornsen³

et al. 2019

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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In the United States, there is an absence of federal guidance related to deriving and applying background concentrations at contaminated sediment sites. This absence has resulted in significant variability, uncertainty, and disagreement regarding how representative background concentrations of chemicals of concern should be derived for these sites. The present article discusses important considerations in the derivation of representative background concentrations to be used in the evaluation of contaminated sediment sites. Specifically, a thorough understanding of a site is critical to selecting the background reference areas from which representative background concentrations can be derived, representative background concentrations should account for contributions from those background chemical inputs (natural and anthropogenic sources) that will continue affecting the site even after remediation, perceived outliers should not be eliminated from the background data set just because they are the highest or lowest values, and geochemical evaluation of trace metals is a useful tool for deriving representative background concentrations. On a site‐specific level, representative background concentrations are critical for putting site‐related risk into context, developing a cost‐effective and technically feasible remedial approach, understanding the potential for recontamination, and ensuring long‐term remedy success. In a broader context, clear guidance from the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for deriving and applying background concentrations for contaminated sediment sites would help promote national consistency in site assessment and remedy decision making. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:000–000. © 2019 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)

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Statistical and geochemical fingerprinting analysis of arsenic mobilization and natural background associated with artificial groundwater recharge

Newman

Gray²

2019

Environ Earth Sci

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Identification of Metals Contamination in Firing-Range Soil Using Geochemical Correlation Evaluation

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Evaluation of geochemical associations as a screening tool for identifying anthropogenic trace metal contamination

Evaluation of geochemical associations as a screening tool for identifying anthropogenic trace metal contamination

Important considerations in the derivation of background at sediment sites

Statistical and geochemical fingerprinting analysis of arsenic mobilization and natural background associated with artificial groundwater recharge

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