Prediction of Heavy Metals Mobility and Bioavailability in Contaminated Soil Using Sequential Extraction and Biosensors

Abstract

Several chemical and biological methods have been developed in the last decade to evaluate heavy metals mobility and bioavailability in contaminated soils. In this study, two methods, Biomet sensors and chemical sequential extraction [potentially bioavailable assessment sequential extraction (PBASE) method], were used to predict heavy metals bioavailability in the surface and heavy metals mobility in the subsurface of smelter-contaminated soils, respectively. The heavy metals considered (arsenic, copper, iron, lead, and zinc) were those detected in a previous sampling campaign performed in the contaminated area. Biomet biosensor results indicated that 15–25% of Cu and Zn were bioavailable for plants and animals uptake in the soil surface, whereas higher values were obtained for As and Pb