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The effects of leaching from alkaline red mud on soil biota: modelling the conditions after the Hungarian red mud disaster

Rékási, Márk and Feigl, Viktória and Uzinger, Nikolett and Gruiz, Katalin and Makó, András and Anton, Attila (2013) The effects of leaching from alkaline red mud on soil biota: modelling the conditions after the Hungarian red mud disaster. Chemistry and Ecology. ISSN 0275-7540

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Abstract

A soil column experiment was set up to investigate the effect of red mud from Ajka (Hungary) on a typical soil profile from the concerned area. The chemical changes caused by the leachate of the red mud and the effects of these changes on living organisms were assessed. Ecotoxicological tests with Vibrio fischeri, Sinapis alba and Folsomia candida were performed and the number of aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms was determined. The total, plant available, exchangeable and water soluble fractions of Na, Mo, Cu, and Cr increased in the soil mostly due to their leaching from the red mud layer and partly to the increase of the pH and DOC concentration. The chemical changes had significant effects on the test organisms only in the 0 – 30 cm soil layer except for F. candida that had a lower survival rate also in the 30 – 50 cm soil layer. There were no severe toxic effects detected on the test organisms. Furthermore in case of the aerobic heterotrophic cell number and S. alba germination a stimulating effect was revealed. However, the red mud itself was toxic, therefore the performed ecotoxicology tests have justified the removal of red mud from the soil surface after the disaster.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Acknowledgement This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article whose final and definitive form, the Version of Record, has been published in the Chemistry and Ecology, published online: 16 July 2013 [copyright Taylor & Francis], available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/[10.1080/02757540.2013.817568].
Uncontrolled Keywords: element fractions, leaching, ecotoxicology test, bauxite residue, heavy metals
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QE Geology / földtudományok > QE07 Economic geology / gazdasági földtan
Depositing User: Blanka Baráth
Date Deposited: 01 Aug 2013 09:46
Last Modified: 05 Apr 2023 06:33
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/6127

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