Chemical and physical characterization of lead in three shooting range soils in Florida

Abstract

To better understand the environmental impact of lead (Pb) in shooting range soils, Pb levels in three berm soils were characterized via size distribution, total Pb concentration, water-soluble Pb, sequential extraction and X-ray diffraction (XRD). About 60% of the mid-berm soils of ranges-G and -O existed in grain sizes between 0.5 and 0.25mm (medium sand) while range-L was most abundant in the 0.25-0.106mm (fine sand) size fraction. All three range soils had the most accumulation of lead (60-70%) in the very coarse sand size (2.0 - 1.0 mm). In ranges-G and -L, the index shows a decreasing Pb enrichment with decreasing particle size, which may be a result of bullet fragmentation and abrasion in shooting range soils. Sequential extractions reveal that ranges-G and -L had the highest proportion of Pb bound to organic matter while range-O was dominated by the carbonate-bound fraction. However, a substantial proportion (one-third) of Pb in soil from the three shooting ranges was associated with carbonates. The XRD result revealed the dominance of carbonates in range-O soil, calcite in range-G soil and metallic lead in ranges-G and -O soil. The conversion of metallic lead to carbonates may be a mechanism for natural attenuation of lead in shooting range soils. Implications for remediation of shooting range soils are further discussed.