Pollution level and reusability of the waste soil generated from demolition of a rural railway. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Il; Wee, Gui Nam; No, Jee Hyun; Lee, Tae Kwon
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 240(2018)
• Page Start: 867
• Page End: 874
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Railway waste soil -- Carbonaceous material -- Soil amendment -- Heavy metals -- Petroleum pollutant; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.05.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Railways are typically considered polluted from years of train operation. However, the pollution level of railway in a rural area, which is less exposed to hazardous material from trains and freights, is rarely assessed. This study evaluated common railway pollutants such as heavy metals, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their chemical properties in the waste soil generated from the renovation of an old railway in rural area of Wonju, South Korea. Furthermore, lab-scale cultivation tests of peas ( Pisum sativum ) were performed to assess reusability of the waste soil as a soil amendment. Carbonaceous materials were found in the upper layer of the railway (0 to −40 cm) and the concentration of common railway pollutants was comparable to those of the agricultural land nearby. Specifically, total aromatic and aliphatic TPHs were below detection limit; and total PAHs < 1.0 mg kg −1 was 1000-times less than railway functional parts. Applying the carbonaceous waste soil improved the water holding capacity of soil by approximately 10% and sprouts formed on the soil with 10% waste soil composition had greater fresh weight, stem length, and root length than the control. Although this investigation was confined to a small length of the railway route, the results confirm environmental safety and the potential value of the waste generated from rural railways for the first time. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Chemical properties, heavy metals, TPHs and PAHs of a rural railway by depth. Carbonaceous waste soil and the sub-base were uncontaminated and fit for reuse. Common railway pollutants in the rural railway was compared to an unpolluted land. Carbonaceous waste soil improved soil properties and enhanced peas growth. Abstract : Railways of a rural area had a low level of hazardous pollutants (ppb) including heavy metals, TPHs and PAHs, which was different from functional parts of railways reported previously. The carbonaceous material isolated from the sites could be used as soil conditioner to enhance the productivity of peas ( Pisum sativum ) suggesting a reduction of waste treatment costs by the reuse of the waste soil from the rail renovation.