Behavior and phytotoxicity of inorganic arsenicals in soils

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6547048

Walsh, L M; Keeney, D R

This paper reviewed the relationship between arsenic sorption and soil properties and the possible mechanisms of As sorption in soils; various soil test methods in terms of their ability to predict As uptake and phytotoxicity; relationships between soil As and plant uptake which result in phytotoxicity and potential hazards to humans or animals consuming plants grown on soils containing high levels of As; and methods of ameliorating As toxicity. Reports have indicated that As is more toxic on coarse-textured than on fine texured clay soils. Sorption of As by soils is time dependent. Soil ''unproductiveness'' due to arsenical poisoning results from heavy application of arsenical pesticides. Arsenic is not an essential plant nutrient but occasionally small yield increases have been observed at low levels of As, especially for tolerant crops such as potatoes, corn, rye, and wheat. Plants vary considerably in their tolerance to high levels of soil As. Very tolerant plants included: asparagus, potato, tomato, carrot, tobacco, dewberry, grapes, and red raspberry. Bioaccumulation of As is hazardous to human beings and animals because of toxicity and its possible relationship to cancer, artereosclerosis, and chronic liver diseases. The edible portion of plants seldom accumulates a hazardous level of As, primarily because most plants are sensitive to As toxicity and growth is usually severely reduced before a level of As hazardous to man or animals accumulate in the plant. Several approaches have been tried to restore As-contaminated soils to the optimal level of production. One method involved adding phosphate to the system to depress the uptake of arsenate by the plant. The soil was also amended with Fe or Al salts. Deep Plowing to dilute the As concentration seemed to be the most economical method. Leaching of the soil was a viable approach also. 62 references, 7 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
• OSTI ID: 6547048
• Report Number(s): CONF-740955-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States) Journal Volume: 7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
560306 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ANIMALS
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CEREALS
DATA
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOOD
GLYCINE HISPIDA
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
GROWTH
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFORMATION
LAND POLLUTION
LEACHING
LEGUMINOSAE
MAIZE
MAMMALS
MAN
NUMERICAL DATA
PEAS
PHASEOLUS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POTATOES
PRIMATES
ROOT ABSORPTION
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
SORPTION
TOLERANCE
TOXICITY
TUBERS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
VERTEBRATES
YIELDS