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Arsenic speciation and reactivity in poultry litter
Yuji Arai1, A Lanzirotti, S Sutton
1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19717, USA. yarai@usgs.gov
Environmental Science & Technology
|October 4, 2003
Summary
Arsenic in poultry litter poses risks to agriculture. New research shows arsenic in litter may transform and leach into soil and water, despite low desorption rates.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Soil Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- U.S. government lowered arsenic maximum concentration levels (MCL) in drinking water to 10 ppb.
- Concerns exist regarding the agricultural use of arsenic-containing biosolids, such as poultry litter (PL).
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate solid-state chemical speciation, desorbability, and total arsenic (As) levels in PL and amended soils.
- Utilize advanced synchrotron-based techniques for detailed analysis.
Main Methods:
- Microfocused synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (micro-SXRF) and micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopies.
- Chemical digestion and batch experiments.
- Analysis of PL and long-term amended agricultural soils.
Main Results:
- Total As levels in PL reached approximately 50 mg kg(-1), concentrated in microscopic particles.
- As speciation in litter particles differed from roxarsone, suggesting transformation.
- Limited As desorption (≤15%) from litter occurred, even at pH 7.
- No significant As accumulation was found in long-term amended soils.
Conclusions:
- Arsenic in poultry litter may undergo transformation and transport in soil-water environments.
- Concerns are raised about the long-term effects of PL amendment on arsenic contamination.
- Further research is needed to understand arsenic mobility and fate.