Rhizosphere and flooding regime as key factors for the mobilisation of arsenic and potentially harmful metals in basic, mining-polluted salt marsh soils

The occurrence of mining areas in the vicinities of salt marshes may affect their ecological functions and facilitate the transfer of pollutants into the food chain. The mobilisation of metals in salt marsh soils is controlled by abiotic (pH, redox potential) and biotic (influence of rhizosphere) factors. The effect of the rhizosphere of two plant species (Sarcocornia fruticosa and Phragmites australis) and different flooding regimes on potentially harmful metals and As mobilisation from salt marsh soil polluted by mining activities were investigated (total concentrations: 536 mg kg−1 As, 37 mg kg−1 Cd, 6746 mg kg−1 Pb, 15,320 mg kg−1 Zn). The results show that the changes in redox conditions (from 300 mV to −100 mV) and pH after flooding and rewetting periods may mobilise the contaminant elements into soil solution (e.g., 100 μg L−1 Cd, 30 μg L−1 Pb, 7 mg L−1 Zn), where they are available for plants or may be leached from the soil. Drying periods generated peaks of concentrations in the soil solution (up to 120 μg L−1 Cd and 50 μg L−1 Pb). The risk assessment of As and metal-polluted salt marshes should take into account flood dynamics in order to prevent metal(loid) mobilisation.

Research highlights
► The influence of rhizosphere in pH and Eh depends of the plant species.
► Changes in Eh and pH after flooding and rewetting mobilise metals into soil solution.
► The risk assessment of polluted salt marshes should take into account flood dynamics.