Effects of Microbial and Phosphate Amendments on the Bioavailability of Lead (Pb) in Shooting Range Soil

C. Wilson¹, R. L. Brigmon², A. Knox², J. Seaman³ and G. Smith¹

¹University South Carolina - Aiken, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801 USA
²Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Building 999W,
Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29808 USA
³Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29808 USA

Introduction: Heavy metals including lead (Pb) are released continually into the environment as a result of industrial, recreational, and military activities. Firing range soil is of particular concern due the high heavy metal concentrations, especially Pb and Cu (Landsberger et al., 1999). Lead ranked number two on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Priority List of Hazardous Substances and was identified as a major hazardous chemical found on 47% of USEPA’s National Priorities List sites (Hettiarachchi and Pierzynski 2004). Bioremediation has been demonstrated to enhance in situ removal and stability of contaminants in combination with physical and chemical treatments (Brigmon et al., 2002). In-situ remediation of lead (Pb) contaminated soils may be accomplished by changing the soil chemistry and structure with the application of microbial and phosphate amendments (Knox et al., 2005).