Estimation of lead bioavailability in smelter-contaminated soils by single and sequential extraction procedure

In this study, the single extraction and sequential extraction procedure were used to separate Pb from an old smelter soil in Liaoning Province, China. At the same time, the root and the overground parts of six species plants in the smelter were harvested for analysis. The concentrations of Pb in the roots and the overground parts of the plants were then compared with the amounts of Pb extracted from the rhizosphere soil by range of conventional extractants. The speciation distribution of Pb was RES > OX > OM > WSA > SE. Assuming that metal mobility and bioavailability are related to their solubility and the contents in typical plants in the contaminated soil, Pb would be the potential risk to environment safety in the area.