Equilibrium partitioning of heavy metals in dutch field soils. I. Relationship between metal partition coefficients and soil characteristics

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 16; no. 12; pp. 2470 - 2478
• Main Authors: Janssen, René P. T., Peijnenburg, Willie J. G. M., Posthuma, Leo, Van Den Hoop, Marc A. G. T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01-12-1997; SETAC
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Equilibrium partitioning; Exact sciences and technology; Heavy metal; Kp Pore water; Partition coefficient; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Soil and sediments pollution; Netherlands; Europe; Chemical analysis; Statistical analysis; Pollutant behavior; Partition coefficient; Regression analysis; Soil pollution; Interstitial water; Iron Hydroxides oxides; Heavy metal; Dissolved organic carbon; Medium effect; pH; Solid phase
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620161206

Twenty Dutch soils were sampled at sites that were expected to have elevated levels of heavy metals compared to background values. Field‐based partition coefficients (Kp) for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined by calculating the ratio of the amount of metal extracted by concentrated HNO3 to the metal concentration in the pore water. Kp values varied widely with metal and soil type and correlated well with soil pH. To a lesser extent amorphous Fe‐content and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) also explained part of the variation in Kp values. Thereupon, regression equations based on easily obtainable soil characteristics were derived. External validation of the regression equations showed that predicted log Kp values were in agreement with measured values.