Heavy metal immobilisation by limestone filler in soils contaminated by mining activities: Effects on metal leaching and ecotoxicity

The leachability and ecotoxicity of potentially toxic elements (PTE) eluting from technosols formed of soils affected by mining activities and limestone filler were evaluated. A total of four contaminated soils affected by opencast mining were selected and mixed with limestone filler at three percentages: 10, 20 and 30 %, providing 12 stabilised samples. Total and soluble PTE content (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) was determined in all the samples and the Microtox® bioassay was applied to determine the ecotoxicological effect. The stabilised material had a neutral pH and low soluble PTE concentration. Moreover, the ecotoxicological assay indicated the presence of low toxicity levels in the stabilised samples. The applied bioassay can be considered a good tool for the screening of PTE contamination in areas affected by mining activities, while providing information about possible attenuation processes.

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