Arsenic uptake from soil

Arsenic uptake from soil (i.e., arsenic bioavailability) depends on soluble arsenic species present in soil, on soil properties (i.e., the type and amount of the sorbent components of the soil), redox (Ej,) and pH conditions and microbiological activity (see Section 6.4.2.1). Uptake into plants further depends on phosphate (often originating from fertilizers) and vanadate levels, as the behavior of arsenate is similar to that of phosphates and vanadates (see also Section 6.6.1). 

Approximately 44 000 t of arsenic are annually removed from soils (Matschullat, 2000), 303. Major processes that eliminate arsenic from soils include microbial volatilization (up to 26,200 tyear-1 (Matschullat, 2000), 300-301), plant uptake, wind and water erosion, and leaching into precipitation, irrigation water, and groundwater (Matschullat, 2000 Bar-Yosef, Chang and Page, 2005). 

G.P. Warren, B.J. Alloway, N.W. Lepp et ai, Field Trials to Assess the Uptake of Arsenic by Vegetables from Contaminated Soils and Soil Remediation with Iron Oxides, Set. Total Environ. 311(1-3), 19-33, July 20 (2003). 

Pendergrass, A. and Butcher, D.J. (2006) Uptake of lead and arsenic in food plants grown in contaminated soil from Barber Orchard, NC. Microchem J, 83 (1), 14-16. 

Warren GP, Alloway BJ, Lepp NW, Singh B, Bochereau FJM and Penny C (2003) Field trials to assess the uptake of arsenic by vegetables from contaminated soils and soil remediation with iron oxides. Sci Total Environ 311 19-33. 

Sandberg and Allen [14] proposed a model (Fig. 2) for arsenic cycle in an agronomic ecosystem. This model contains 12 possible transfers to and from a field for the organoarsenical herbicides. They conclude that transfers involving reduction to methylarsines, soil erosion, and crop uptake were primary redistribution mechanisms in this model. From their data it was concluded that arsenic is mobile and nonaccumulative in the air, plant and water phases of the agronomic ecosystem. Arsenicals do accumulate in soil but redistribution mechanisms preclude hazardous accumulations at a given site. 

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