Management of arsenic-contaminated excavated soils: A review

Shafiqur Rahman; Ismail M M Rahman; Hiroshi Hasegawa

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118943

Management of arsenic-contaminated excavated soils: A review

J Environ Manage. 2023 Nov 15:346:118943. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118943. Epub 2023 Sep 23.

Authors

Shafiqur Rahman¹, Ismail M M Rahman², Hiroshi Hasegawa³

Affiliations

¹ Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan. Electronic address: rahman-shafiqur@se.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.
² Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan. Electronic address: immrahman@ipc.fukushima-u.ac.jp.
³ Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan. Electronic address: hhiroshi@se.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 37748284
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118943

Abstract

Ongoing global sustainable development and underground space utilization projects have inadvertently exposed many excavated soils naturally contaminated with geogenic arsenic (As). Recent investigations have revealed that As in certain excavated soils, especially those originating from deep construction projects, has exceeded regulatory limits, threatening the environment and human health. While numerous remediation techniques exist for treating As-contaminated soil, the unique characteristics of geogenic As contamination in excavated soil require specific measures when leachable As content surpasses established regulatory limits. Consequently, several standard leaching tests have been developed globally to assess As leaching from contaminated soil. However, a comprehensive comparative analysis of these methods and their implementation in contaminated excavated soils remains lacking. Furthermore, the suitability and efficacy of most conventional and advanced techniques for remediating As-contaminated excavated soils remained unexplored. Therefore, this study critically reviews relevant literature and summarize recent research findings concerning the management and mitigation of geogenic As in naturally contaminated excavated soil. The objective of this study was to outline present status of excavated soil globally, the extent and mode of As enrichment, management and mitigation approaches for As-contaminated soil, global excavated soil recycling strategies, and relevant soil contamination countermeasure laws. Additionally, the study provides a concise overview and comparison of standard As leaching tests developed across different countries. Furthermore, this review assessed the suitability of prominent and widely accepted As remediation techniques based on their applicability, acceptability, cost-effectiveness, duration, and overall treatment efficiency. This comprehensive review contributes to a more profound comprehension of the challenges linked to geogenic As contamination in excavated soils.

Keywords: Arsenic; Bibliometric study; Excavated soil; Immobilization; Soil remediation; Soil washing.

Publication types

Review