The potential risk to humans from incidental ingestion of As-contaminated soil and mine waste is influenced by the mineralogical composition of the As phases present. Using the Solubility Bioaccessibility Research Consortium in vitro assay, simulating gastric conditions, we determined the oral bioaccessibility of As in 16 environmentally important As mineral(oid)s commonly found in mine waste and contaminated soils. Our results revealed a wide range of bioaccessibility values closely related to the solubility of the mineral(oid)s. Bioaccessibility values ranged from 0.15 % in minerals with great environmental stability such as scorodite and pharmacosiderite, to complete (100 %) release from minerals such as adamite, erythrite and pharmacolite. Intermediate bioaccessibility levels were observed in minerals such as arsenolite and yukonite, ranging from 6 % to 67 %. In mixtures with soil, the bioaccessibility of As in mineral(oid)s with low solubility was significantly reduced, with bioaccessibility values up to 8.7 times lower due to the effective adsorption of As by the soil. We conclude that the bioaccessibility of As in natural soil and mine waste is intricately influenced by both the mineralogical composition of As phases and the As retention capacity of natural materials under acidic conditions of gastric fluids.

• Klíčová slova
• Arsenic, Bioaccessibility, Mineral(oid)s, Soil, Solubility,
• MeSH
• arsen * analýza   chemie   MeSH
• biologická dostupnost * MeSH
• hornictví * MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * analýza   chemie   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• minerály * chemie   MeSH
• rozpustnost * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• arsen * MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• minerály * MeSH

Today, it is proven that the contaminated urban soils are hazardous for the human health. Soil substrates of playgrounds call for special research as they are places where children are directly exposed to soil contaminants. Therefore, the objective of this work was to measure the pseudo-total contents and bioaccessibility of several metals and metalloids (As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, V, Zn) in two grain sizes (< 150 μm and < 50 μm) of playground soils in Bratislava city (the capital of Slovakia). The content of metal(loid)s in the soils was controlled by a number of factors, with their increased contents (above 75% percentile or higher) at sites influenced by point sources of pollution (industry and agriculture) or at old sites located in the city centre. Cobalt, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni and V had relatively uniform contents in soils compared to the other elements. As regression modelling with a categorical variable confirmed, the age of urban areas influenced the accumulation of As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb and Sn in playground soils. Exploratory statistical techniques with compositionally transformed data (principal component analysis, cluster analysis and construction of symmetric coordinates for correlation analysis) divided trace elements into the two main groupings, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, V and Bi, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn. Median concentrations of the elements in smaller soil grains (< 50 μm) were significantly higher than in coarser grains (< 150 μm). Cobalt, Cu, Mn, Pb, Sn and Zn had significantly higher bioaccessible proportions (% of the pseudo-total content) in < 50 μm soil size than in < 150 μm; however, the same order of bioaccessibility was achieved in both grain sizes. The highest bioaccessibility had Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn (~ 40% and more), followed by Co, As, Mn, Sb (18-27%), Hg, Ni, Sn (10-12%) and finally Cr, Fe and V (less than 4%). The hazard index and carcinogenic risk values were higher in < 50 μm than in < 150 μm and significantly decreased in the two soil sizes when the bioaccessibility results were included in the health hazard calculation.

• Klíčová slova
• Bioaccessibility, Contamination, Health risk assessment, Metal(loid)s, Urban soil,
• MeSH
• biologická dostupnost MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• karcinogeny analýza   MeSH
• kovy analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• polokovy analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• stopové prvky analýza   farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• velikost částic MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• veřejné parky MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky   analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• Názvy látek
• karcinogeny MeSH
• kovy MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• polokovy MeSH
• půda MeSH
• stopové prvky MeSH

Laboratory studies of pollutant uptake kinetics commonly start shortly after experimental soil contamination when it is not clear if the processes between soil and chemicals are equilibrated and stabilized. For instance, when the concentration in soil quickly decreases due to initial biodegradation, bioaccumulation may show a peak-shape accumulation curve instead of conventional first order kinetics with a plateau at the end. The results of such experiments with soil freshly contaminated in the laboratory are then hardly comparable to bioaccumulation observed in soils from historically contaminated sites. Therefore, our study focused on the uptake kinetics of four hydrophobic organic compounds (pyrene, lindane, p,p'-DDT and PCB 153) in two laboratory-contaminated natural soils with different soil properties (e.g. total organic carbon content of 1.6 and 9.3%) aged for 203 days to mimic long-term contamination. For pyrene, the results surprisingly showed peak-shape accumulation curves despite long aging. It seems compound biodegradation might be significant in aged soils when the conditions change (e.g. by distribution to the experimental vessels) and this should be also considered when testing historically contaminated soils. For lindane, longer aging seems to guarantee stability of the soil-compound-earthworm system and the steady state was reached after 5 days of exposure. Furthermore, although concentrations of p,p'-DDT and PCB 153 in earthworms after 11-15-day exposure did not statistically differ, which is a commonly-used indicator that a steady state was reached, they continuously increased until the end of the exposure. Therefore, despite the aging, longer exposure was probably needed to reach the true equilibrium between concentrations in earthworms and soil. In summary, aging does not warranty the conventional first order kinetic curve with the equilibrium at the end of the exposure but may have diverse effects for compounds with different environmental properties and should be taken into account in the bioaccumulation factor calculation and the risk assessment.

• Klíčová slova
• Aging, BAFs, Bioaccumulation, HOCs, Laboratory-contaminated soils,
• MeSH
• DDT farmakokinetika   MeSH
• hexachlorcyklohexan farmakokinetika   MeSH
• hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu chemie   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• Oligochaeta metabolismus   MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly farmakokinetika   MeSH
• pyreny farmakokinetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl MeSH Prohlížeč
• DDT MeSH
• hexachlorcyklohexan MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly MeSH
• pyrene MeSH Prohlížeč
• pyreny MeSH

The diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) was used for the determination of bioavailable mercury in urban soils, and results were compared to the mercury accumulation by Pisum sativum L. (pea) parts (leaf, root, stem, blossom, legume, and green seed). The total mercury concentration in soil samples was ranged between 0.084 and 0.326 mg kg-1. The soil solutions contained 0.15%-0.20% of mercury present in soils. In the soil solution, 2.21%-3.45% of mercury was available for DGT units. The highest mercury content was determined in the leaf and root of the pea plant, and the lowest in the consumable part of the pea plant (green seed). Mercury concentration in the parts of the pea plant increased over time, alongside the growth of the plant. The effect of acid precipitation on mercury bioavailability was statistically non-significant (p = 0.53). Significant and positive correlations were found between mercury flux into DGT unit, and mercury flux into the root (r = 0.989), leaf (r = 0.985), and stem (r = 0.904) of the pea plant. The obtained results suggest that the DGT method could be used for description of the uptake of mercury by pea plant parts in non-contaminated and slightly contaminated soils.

• Klíčová slova
• Acid rain, Bioavailability, DGT, Mercury, Pea (Pisum sativum L.),
• MeSH
• biologická dostupnost MeSH
• hrách setý metabolismus   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• listy rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• metody MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• rtuť analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• semena rostlinná metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• půda MeSH
• rtuť MeSH

The establishment of phytoextraction crops on highly contaminated soils can be limited by metal toxicity. A recent proposal has suggested establishing support crops during the critical initial phase by metal immobilization through soil amendments followed by subsequent mobilization using elemental sulphur to enhance phytoextraction efficiency. This 'combined phytoremediation' approach is tested for the first time in a pot experiment with a highly contaminated soil. During a 14-week period, relatively metal-tolerant maize was grown in a greenhouse under immobilization (before sulphur (S) application) and mobilization (after S application) conditions with soil containing Cd, Pb and Zn contaminants. Apart from the control (C) sample, the soil was amended with activated carbon (AC), lignite (Lig) or vermicompost (VC) all in two different doses (dose 1~45 g additive kg-1 soil and dose 2~90 g additive kg-1 soil). Elemental S was added as a mobilization agent in these samples after 9 weeks. Biomass production, nutrient and metal bioavailability in the soil were determined, along with their uptake by plants and the resulting remediation factors. Before S application, Cd and Zn mobility was reduced in all the AC, Lig and VC treatments, while Pb mobility was increased only in the Lig1 and VC1 treatments. Upon sulphur application, Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb and Zn mobility was not significantly affected in the C, AC and VC treatments, nor total Cd, Pb and Zn contents in maize shoots. Increased sulphate, Mn, Cd, Pb and Zn mobilities in soil together with related higher total S, Mn, Pb and Zn contents in shoots were observed in investigated treatments in the last sampling period. The highest biomass production and the lowest metal toxicity were seen in the VC treatments. These results were associated with effective metal immobilization and showed the trend of steady release of some nutrients. The highest remediation factors and total elemental content in maize shoots were recorded in the VC treatments. This increased phytoremediation efficiency by 400% for Cd and by 100% for Zn compared to the control. Considering the extreme metal load of the soil, it might be interesting to use highly metal-tolerant plants in future research. Future investigations could also explore the effect of carbonaceous additives on S oxidation, focusing on the specific microorganisms and redox reactions in the soil. In addition, the homogeneous distribution of the S rate in the soil should be considered, as well as longer observation times.

• Klíčová slova
• Activated carbon, Heavy metals, Lignite, Vermicompost, Zea mays,
• MeSH
• biodegradace MeSH
• biologická dostupnost MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• dřevěné a živočišné uhlí chemie   MeSH
• fosfor farmakokinetika   MeSH
• kompostování MeSH
• kukuřice setá účinky léků   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• regenerace a remediace životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• síra * farmakokinetika   MeSH
• těžké kovy analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• výhonky rostlin účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• dřevěné a živočišné uhlí MeSH
• fosfor MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• půda MeSH
• síra * MeSH
• těžké kovy MeSH

The potential environmental hazards of risk elements in the area affected by the opencast coal mine and/or coal combustion for plants and animals was assessed by using a suite of laboratory bioaccessibility tests. The chosen sampling area was in the vicinity of the largest coal mine spoil in the Sokolov coal basin (Czech Republic). For an estimation of the oral bioaccessibility of the risk elements in soils, the physiologically based extraction tests were applied. Among the available methods for estimating the pulmonary bioaccessibility of elements, the Gamble's and Hatch's tests were chosen. The results showed elevated pseudo-total soil contents of As, Be, Cd, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn. Among these elements, only Cd showed substantial bioaccessibility for plants, as documented by the high Risk Assessment Code, reaching up to 47%, and the highest plant-availability, where the maximum Bioaccumulation Factor in plants reached up to 4.5. The simulated body fluids showed the highest bioaccessibility of Cd, but also substantial bioaccessible pools of As and Be, the elements frequently found at the brown coal mining and processing areas. For better understanding of the risk element bioaccessibility under the specific conditions, the released element pools should be related to the particular soil physicochemical parameters.

• Klíčová slova
• tests, Cadmium, arsenic, plant and animal uptake, soil contamination,
• MeSH
• arsen analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• biologická dostupnost MeSH
• kovy analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• rostliny metabolismus   MeSH
• těžba uhlí * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• arsen MeSH
• kovy MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• půda MeSH

Abandoned gold mines are often suggested as potential sources of environmental pollution. Thus, the soils within the area of a gold mine in Libčice, Czech Republic, were monitored. Elevated element contents were found of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn. The risk assessment codes (RACs) indicated high environmental risk from soil Cd, and moderate risk from Zn, whereas the risk of As, Cu, and Pb was low. It was supported by the analysis of 134 samples of aboveground biomass of plants, where the levels of As and Pb were below the detection limit. For Cd, the plant uptake reflected the high mobility of this element, where the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) varied in range 0.032 (Fragaria vesca) and 1.97 (Circia arvensis). For 11% of samples the BAF values for Cd exceeded 1. For Hg, although the maximum BAF did not exceed 0.37 (Lotus corniculatus), the Hg contents in plants occasionally exceeded the threshold limits for Hg contents in raw feedstuffs. The investigated gold mine does not represent a direct environmental risk, but the fate of Cd and Hg in the soils and plants suggests the necessity of a deeper understanding of the penetration of these elements into the surrounding environment.

• Klíčová slova
• Risk elements, arsenic, gold mine, mercury, plant community, soil,
• MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• hornictví * MeSH
• jahodník chemie   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty analýza   MeSH
• rostliny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• rtuť analýza   MeSH
• těžké kovy analýza   MeSH
• zlato * analýza   MeSH
• znečištění životního prostředí analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• půda MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty MeSH
• rtuť MeSH
• těžké kovy MeSH
• zlato * MeSH

Effective and efficient assessments of the site conditions are required for the sustainable management of landfills. In this study we propose an evaluation method to determine the degree of environmental contamination by the contest of heavy metals (HM) concentrations in soil and plants (Tanacetum vulgare L., Carduus L., Plantago major L.). We compared HM concentrations in the soil, leaves, stem and roots of those native plants. Content of HM in samples was at the same level in all localities, except content of Zn. These values confirm that the area is not naturally burdened by increased HM content in the soil, and also that the deposited municipal waste or the material used for reclamation and composting does not contain risk elements. The content of selected HM was monitored in plants naturally occurring in the area of interest. We can state that the content of individual HM was in the plant biomass at the same level. The measured values confirmed that the largest number of HM was in roots, then in stem and the least in leaves. In addition, specific indexes were determined: BAC, TF, CF, PLI and Igeo. The BAC values confirmed that the individual plants had the ability to accumulate Pb and Cd (BAC> 2) but were limited to bind Mn and Zn (BAC <1). TF values confirmed that plants had a different ability to transport HM from roots to aboveground biomass. Potential soil contamination was detected using CF, PLI and Igeo indexes but contamination by HM was not confirmed.

• Klíčová slova
• Carduus L., Heavy metals, Landfill, Plantago major L, Risk assessment, Tanacetum vulgare L.,
• MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• odpadky - odstraňování * MeSH
• rostliny metabolismus   MeSH
• skládková zařízení MeSH
• těžké kovy analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• znečištění životního prostředí * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• těžké kovy MeSH

The edible ink stain bolete (Cyanoboletus pulverulentus) was found to hyperaccumulate arsenic. We analyzed 39 individual collections determined as C. pulverulentus, mostly from the Czech Republic. According to our results, concentrations of arsenic in C. pulverulentus fruit-bodies may reach 1300mgkg-1 dry weight. In most collections, data for total and bioavailable arsenic in underlying soils were collected but no significant correlation between the soil arsenic content and arsenic concentrations in the associated fruit-bodies was found. Within the fruit-bodies, we found the majority of arsenic accumulated in the hymenium. Besides occasional traces of methylarsonic acid (MA), the arsenic speciation in all mushroom samples consisted solely of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and no inorganic arsenic was detected. Because of the carcinogenic potential of DMA, C. pulverulentus should not be recommended as an edible mushroom and its consumption should be restricted.

• Klíčová slova
• Dimethylarsinic acid, Edible mushrooms, HPLC-ICPMS, Health risk, Soil,
• MeSH
• arsen analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• arsenikové přípravky analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• Basidiomycota účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kontaminace potravin analýza   MeSH
• kyselina kakodylová analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• arsen MeSH
• arsenikové přípravky MeSH
• kyselina kakodylová MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• monomethylarsonic acid MeSH Prohlížeč

Several efficient stabilizing amendments have been recently proposed for the remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated soils. However, information on their interactions with plants, which is a crucial factor in soil environments, are still scarce. An amorphous manganese oxide (AMO) synthesized from organic compounds and nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) have been previously tested as promising stabilizing agents usable both for the stabilization of metals and As. Experiments with rhizoboxes were performed in order to evaluate their influence on the mobility of metal(loid)s in the bulk soil and rhizosphere of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) together with their impact on metal uptake and biomass yield. Generally, AMO proved more efficient than nZVI in all stages of experiment. Furthermore, the AMO effectively reduced water- and 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable fractions of Cd, Pb and Zn. The decreased bioavailability of contaminating metal(loid)s resulted in significant increase of microbial activity in AMO-amended soil. Together with metal(loid) extractability, the AMO was also able to significantly reduce the uptake of metals and ameliorate plant growth, especially in the case of Zn, since this metal was taken up in excessive amounts from the control soil causing strong phytotoxicity and even death of young seedlings. On the other hand, AMO application lead to significant release of Mn that was readily taken up by plants. Resulting Mn concentrations in biomass exceeded toxicity thresholds while plants were showing emergent Mn phytotoxicity symptoms. We highlight the need of such complex studies involving plants and soil biota when evaluating the efficiency of stabilizing amendments in contaminated soils.

• Klíčová slova
• Immobilization, Manganese oxide, Nano zerovalent iron, Rhizobox, Stabilization,
• MeSH
• Bacteria účinky léků   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• Helianthus * růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• oxidy chemická syntéza   farmakokinetika   farmakologie   MeSH
• půda MeSH
• regenerace a remediace životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• sloučeniny manganu chemická syntéza   farmakokinetika   farmakologie   MeSH
• těžké kovy analýza   farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• železo chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• manganese oxide MeSH Prohlížeč
• oxidy MeSH
• půda MeSH
• sloučeniny manganu MeSH
• těžké kovy MeSH
• železo MeSH