Environmental Science Processes & Impacts View Article Online
Published on 17 December 2013. Downloaded by University of Western Ontario on 28/10/2014 22:21:50.
PAPER
Cite this: Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2014, 16, 542
View Journal | View Issue
Mineral magnetic measurements as a particle size proxy for urban roadside soil pollution (part 1) C. J. Crosby,*a C. A. Boothb and M. A. Fullenc The use of mineral magnetic concentration parameters (cLF, cARM and SIRM) as a potential particle size proxy for soil samples collected from Wolverhampton (UK) is explored as an alternative means of normalizing particle size effects. Comparison of soil-related analytical data by correlation analyses between each magnetic parameter and individual particle size classes (i.e. sand, silt and clay), more discrete intervals within classes (e.g. fine sand or medium silt) and cumulative size fractions (e.g. clay + fine silt) are reported. cLF, cARM and SIRM parameters reveal significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.001 n ¼ 60), moderate negative (rs ¼ 0.3 to 0.557) associations with clay, silt and sand content. Contrary to earlier research findings which found positive relationships, this indicates that magnetic measurements cannot always
Received 1st July 2013 Accepted 16th December 2013
provide a predictable particle size proxy and it is only certain environments and/or specific settings that are appropriate for granulometric normalization by this technique. However, if future researchers working in other soil settings can identify a formal predictable relationship, the technique is known to
DOI: 10.1039/c3em00344b
offer a simple, reliable, rapid, sensitive, inexpensive and non-destructive approach that could be a
rsc.li/process-impacts
valuable proxy for normalizing particle size effects in soil contamination studies.
Environmental impact Despite advances in using mineral magnetic techniques, the approach of using mineral magnetic properties in the study of environmental pollution has not been fully explored and offers considerable advantages over current methods. However, to date most work has not examined the extent to which mineral magnetic parameters could be used, with only a limited number of sedimentary environments explored. This work aims to use a specic urban sedimentary environment to assess the suitability for using these techniques. This work will form part of a wider scope of research which identies the success and limitations of using mineral magnetic techniques as proxy methods in urban settings. Further publications will focus on road deposited sediments, soils and urban water at local, regional and national scales.
Introduction Soil contamination by heavy metals,1 radionuclides,2 or persistent organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),3 and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),4 is an important public health concern.5,6 Assessment of the extent and severity of soil contamination requires thorough investigation before remediation can proceed,7,8 but soil-related analytical data can be strongly affected by particle size effects. Before directly comparing samples of different particle sizes, it is necessary to correct for such size effects. This is because, generally, the ner a sediment, the greater its concentration of both natural and anthropogenic pollutants.9,10 It is good practice, therefore, to rst remove this inuence by either normalizing data relative to the abundance of a specic particle size interval or fractionating samples into specic sizes (e.g.
Published on 17 December 2013. Downloaded by University of Western Ontario on 28/10/2014 22:21:50.
PAPER
Cite this: Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2014, 16, 542
View Journal | View Issue
Mineral magnetic measurements as a particle size proxy for urban roadside soil pollution (part 1) C. J. Crosby,*a C. A. Boothb and M. A. Fullenc The use of mineral magnetic concentration parameters (cLF, cARM and SIRM) as a potential particle size proxy for soil samples collected from Wolverhampton (UK) is explored as an alternative means of normalizing particle size effects. Comparison of soil-related analytical data by correlation analyses between each magnetic parameter and individual particle size classes (i.e. sand, silt and clay), more discrete intervals within classes (e.g. fine sand or medium silt) and cumulative size fractions (e.g. clay + fine silt) are reported. cLF, cARM and SIRM parameters reveal significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.001 n ¼ 60), moderate negative (rs ¼ 0.3 to 0.557) associations with clay, silt and sand content. Contrary to earlier research findings which found positive relationships, this indicates that magnetic measurements cannot always
Received 1st July 2013 Accepted 16th December 2013
provide a predictable particle size proxy and it is only certain environments and/or specific settings that are appropriate for granulometric normalization by this technique. However, if future researchers working in other soil settings can identify a formal predictable relationship, the technique is known to
DOI: 10.1039/c3em00344b
offer a simple, reliable, rapid, sensitive, inexpensive and non-destructive approach that could be a
rsc.li/process-impacts
valuable proxy for normalizing particle size effects in soil contamination studies.
Environmental impact Despite advances in using mineral magnetic techniques, the approach of using mineral magnetic properties in the study of environmental pollution has not been fully explored and offers considerable advantages over current methods. However, to date most work has not examined the extent to which mineral magnetic parameters could be used, with only a limited number of sedimentary environments explored. This work aims to use a specic urban sedimentary environment to assess the suitability for using these techniques. This work will form part of a wider scope of research which identies the success and limitations of using mineral magnetic techniques as proxy methods in urban settings. Further publications will focus on road deposited sediments, soils and urban water at local, regional and national scales.
Introduction Soil contamination by heavy metals,1 radionuclides,2 or persistent organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),3 and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),4 is an important public health concern.5,6 Assessment of the extent and severity of soil contamination requires thorough investigation before remediation can proceed,7,8 but soil-related analytical data can be strongly affected by particle size effects. Before directly comparing samples of different particle sizes, it is necessary to correct for such size effects. This is because, generally, the ner a sediment, the greater its concentration of both natural and anthropogenic pollutants.9,10 It is good practice, therefore, to rst remove this inuence by either normalizing data relative to the abundance of a specic particle size interval or fractionating samples into specic sizes (e.g.
