Soil contamination and bioaccumulation of inorganics on petrochemical sites

Abstract

Petrochemical waste contains inorganic contaminants that can pollute soil and pose ecological risks to wildlife. Few studies have evaluated bioaccumulation of inorganic contaminants by small mammals from soil contaminated with petrochemical waste. In this study, we determined the extent of soil contamination with inorganics, the bioaccumulation of metals and F in bone of cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), and the relationship between contaminants in soil and in bone of cotton rats on petrochemical waste sites. Cotton rats and soils from 12 petrochemical‐contaminated and matched reference sites were analyzed over a three‐year period. The number of petrochemical‐contaminated sites with soil contamination (in parentheses) were Zn (12), Pb (9), Cr (9), Cu (8), F (7), Ni (7), Sr (6), Ti (5), V (5), Co (3), Ba (3), and Cd (2). Lead and F were the most frequently bioaccumulated contaminants in cotton rat bones. Bone Pb of 3.8 to 63.4 mg/kg was 2‐ to 42‐fold and bone F of 830 to 3,680 mg/kg was 5‐ to 23‐fold greater than mean bone Pb and F from reference sites. Bone Pb and F showed a seasonal trend with winter greater than summer levels. Bone F was an accurate predictor of dental fluorosis when bone F was low (< 1,000 mg/kg, no fluorosis) or high (>3,000 mg/kg, fluorosis) but was inaccurate for intermediate bone F (1,000–3,000 mg/kg). The prevalence of dental fluorosis on F‐contaminated sites was 50% higher in winter than summer. Strong relationships were found between bone F and HCl‐extractable F (r = 0.70) and bone F and total content of F (r = 0.85) in F‐contaminated soils. Land disposal of petrochemical wastes should limit the amount of inorganic contaminants applied to soil.

Soil and vegetation fluoride exposure pathways to cotton rats on a petrochemical‐contaminated landfarm

“…Total soil F content of the reference site was similar to total soil F of uncontaminated sites, ranging from 150 to 400 mg/kg [1]. Schroder [38] reported a strong relationship between bone F and soil F for cotton rats collected from 11 petrochemical‐contaminated sites in Oklahoma.…”

“…Plant‐available 0.01 M KNO 3 ‐extractable F and HCI‐extractable F that are potentially bioavailable to mammals were measured. Schroder [38] reported a strong relationship between the HCI‐extractable F and bone F. Fluoride extracted with 0.01 M KNO 3 at the contaminated landfarm site was higher than typical 0.01MKNO 3 ‐extractable F for uncontaminated sites of 0.02 mg/kg [14], suggesting more plant‐available F in the contaminated soil (Table 2). Most soil F was not dissolved by the pH 1.5 HCI extract used in this study (Table 2).…”

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, trace elements, and monooxygenase activity in birds nesting on the North Platte River, Casper, Wyoming, USA

“…Although PAHs are rapidly metabolized in birds [4], PAHs have been detected in bird tissues in relation to sources of petroleum [5] and combustion [6]. Trace element concentrations in soil and small mammals were higher at sites treated with petrochemical waste compared to reference sites [7]. Induction of hepatic monooxygenase activity after exposure to PAHs has been documented in birds in both the laboratory [8–11] and the field [12].…”

Adsorptive Removal of Fluoride from Water Using Nanomaterials of Ferrihydrite, Apatite, and Brucite: Batch and Column Studies

“…In the United States, fluoride poses a significant threat to ecosystem health. Of concern in the local Oklahoma/Texas region is the disposal of wastewater from petroleum refineries, as fluoride is found as a contaminant in toxic wastes from the petrochemical industry (Schroder et al, 2000). Commonly, the hazardous wastewater is disposed in land farms.…”