The environmental impact of heavy metals from sewage sludge in ferralsols (São Paulo, Brazil)

The spreading of sewage sludge on acidic ferralsol soil was simulated in a column experiment in order to estimate the potential impact on water and soil quality. Drainage and runoff water were sampled daily over a 2-month experiment and analysed for Fe, Ni, Cu, Pb and DOC. Results show a clear influence of the sludge on the water quality, especially at the start of the experiment, increasing the export of Cu, Ni, Pb and in DOC from the soil, mainly in dissolved form. Nickel was usually the most mobile element in the sludge and in the soil. In the soil, Pb mobility was complex and increased drastically with time compared to the other elements. No significant increase in soil heavy metal content due to the sludge spreading was recorded on this time scale.