Restoration and risk reduction of lead mining waste by phosphate-enriched biosolid amendments

Lead (Pb) contamination in environment has been identified as a threat to human health and ecosystems. In an effort to reduce the health and ecological risks associated with Pb mining wastes, a field study was conducted to stabilize Pb using phosphate (P)-enriched biosolid amendments in the contaminated mining wastes (average of 1004 mg Pb kg(−1)) located within the Jasper County Superfund Site, southwest Missouri. Experiments consisted of six biosolid amendment treatments, including Mizzou Doo compost (MD); Spent mushroom compost (SMC); Turkey litter compost (TLC); Composted chicken litter (CCL); Composted sewage sludge (CSS); and Triple superphosphate (TSP). Kentucky tall fescue seeds were planted following the treatments, and soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed 8–10 years post treatment. Results indicated that, in all cases, the biosolid treatments resulted in significant reductions in bioaccessible Pb (96.5 to 97.5%), leachable Pb (95.0 to 97.1%) and plant tissue Pb (45.5 to 90.1%) in the treated wastes, as compared with the control. The treatments had no significantly toxicological effect to soil microbial community. Analysis of the Pb fractionation revealed that the Pb risk reduction was accomplished by transforming labile Pb fractions to relatively stable species through the chemical stabilization reactions as induced by the treatments. The solid-phase microprobe analysis confirmed the formation of pyromorphite or pyromorphite-like minerals after the treatment. Among the six biosolid amendments examined, SMC and MD treatments were shown most effective in the context of Pb stabilization and risk reduction. This field study demonstrated that the treatment effectiveness of Pb stabilization and risk reduction in mining wastes by P-enriched biosolid amendments was long-term and environmental-sound, which could be potentially applied as a cost-effective remedial technology to restore contaminated mining site and safeguard human health and ecosystems from Pb contamination.