Distribution of phosphorous pools in western river sediments of the Urmia Lake basin, Iran.

Impact of anthropogenic loading of phosphorous (P) to an aquatic ecosystem can be qualitatively assessed by measuring the buildup and distribution of P in sediments and by differentiating bioavailable and recalcitrant P pools. Distribution of P pools in sediments is affected by the physico-chemical properties including specific elements, particle size distribution, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and carbonate content. We applied X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods to characterize sediments from western rivers in the Urmia Lake basin in Iran with a particular focus on properties that are relevant to P speciation.

Distribution and fractionation of cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc in a calcareous sandy soil receiving municipal solid waste.

This study was conducted to evaluate the degree of mobility and fractionation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) after the addition of municipal solid sewage sludge (MSS) in a sandy calcareous soil. Treatments were (1) soil application of MSS, (2) soil application of enriched municipal solid waste compost (EMSS), and (3) control soil. The MSS application represented a dose of 200 Mg dry weight per hectare.