Comparison of extractability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn with sequential extraction in contaminated and non-contaminated soils

Various extraction procedures were employed for measuring extractable concentrations of potential toxic elements in soil. The extractability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in four contaminated and four non-contaminated soils of Japan, was compared by single extraction (CaCl₂, DTPA, NH₄Cl, 0.1 M HCl and 1 M HCl ) and sequential extraction procedures [(six operationally defined chemical phases, viz. water soluble (Fl), exchangeable (F2), carbonate (F3), oxide (F4), organic (F5) and residual (F6) fractions)]. Extractability of metals from soils samples varied depending on metals and/or extradants used. Among the extradants, 1 M HCl extracted the largest proportion of Cd (79 to 96% of total), Cu (61 to 83%), Pb (51 to 99%) and Zn (23 to 52%) from soils followed by 0.1 M HCl, NH₄Cl, DTPA and CaCl₂. In all the extradants, the proportion of extractability of metals was higher in the contaminated soils than the non-contaminated soils. Regardless of soils and extradants, relative extractability was higher for Cd as compared to other three metals. The use of 1 M HCl may be recommended for first-level screening of soil contamination with heavy metals. The other four weak extradants are believed to provide a better assessment of bioavailable/mobile metals content in soils than 1 M HCl extradant. However, 0.1 M HCl mobilized all four metals irrespective of soil types, therefore, might be the best choice if only one extradant is to be used. The sequential extraction procedures showed 22 to 64% of total Cd was in the mobile fraction (sum of Fl to F3), while the corresponding values for Cu, Pb and Zn in this fractions were 2 to 23% suggesting higher mobility of Cd than other three metals. The single extraction procedures are simple and easy to perform and obtained results are comparable with sequential extraction procedure.     

Transport and sediment–water partitioning of trace metals in acid mine drainage: an example from the abandoned Kwangyang Au–Ag mine area, South Korea

Transport and sediment–water partitioning of trace metals (Cr, Co, Fe, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd) in acid mine drainage were studied in two creeks in the Kwangyang Au–Ag mine area, southern part of Korea. Chemical analysis of stream waters and the weak acid (0.1 N HCl) extraction, strong acid (HF–HNO₃–HClO₄) extraction, and sequential extraction of stream sediments were performed. Heavy metal pollution of sediments was higher in Chonam-ri creek than in Sagok-ri creek, because there is a larger source of base metal sulfides in the ores and waste dump upstream of Chonam-ri creek. The sediment–water distribution coefficients (K _d) for metals in both creeks were dependent on the water pH and decreased in the order Pb ≈ Al > Cu > Mn > Zn > Co > Ni ≈ Cd. K _d values for Al, Cu and Zn were very sensitive to changes in pH. The results of sequential extraction indicated that among non-residual fractions, Fe–Mn oxides are most important for retaining trace metals in the sediments. Therefore, the precipitation of Fe(–Mn) oxides due to pH increase in downstream sites plays an important role in regulating the concentrations of dissolved trace metals in both creeks. For Al, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn, the metal concentrations determined by 0.1 N HCl extraction (Korean Standard Method for Soil Pollution) were almost identical to the cumulative concentrations determined for the first three weakly-bound fractions (exchangeable + bound to carbonates + bound to Fe–Mn oxides) in the sequential extraction procedure. This suggests that 0.1 N HCl extraction can be effectively used to assess the environmentally available and/or bioavailable forms of trace metals in natural stream sediments.     

Évaluation de la mobilité des métaux dans les sédiments fluviaux du bassin de la Vire (Normandie,France) par extractions simples ou séquentielles

This work compares the quantities of labile metals removed from the Vire River (Normandy) sediments by a sequential extraction procedure to those liberated by single leaches (Mg(NO₃)₂, HCl and EDTA). Compared to the other extractions, Mg(NO₃)₂ underestimated the mobility results. The sequential procedure was the most aggressive, except for Ca and Pb. The hypothetic correlation between quantities of an element removed by single leaches and its fractionation in the sediment according to the sequential procedure was not satisfying. Finally, it should be underlined that enrichments of Cd, Pb and Zn were noticed in the Vire sediments. To cite this article: L. Leleyter, F. Baraud, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

土壤重金属连续提取方法的优化

重金属在污染土壤中的形态分布决定着重金属的迁移性和危害的程度。土壤重金属形态分析应用最多的是Tessier和BCR连续提取法。Tessier和BCR连续提取法没有考虑土壤样品的特征。美国环保署危险废物浸出毒性鉴别标准法虽然考虑土壤pH值,但没有划分形态。采集不同pH土样,结合Tessier、BCR和毒性浸出鉴别方法的特征,优化出针对不同pH值土壤的连续提取方法,将土壤中重金属划分为活性态、次生碳酸盐结合态、次稳定态和稳定态。用优化的连续提取方法对土样进行连续提取,重金属回收率为85%~115%。优化连续提取方法的结果与Tessier和BCR结果对比显示优化连续提取方法克服了Tessier连续提取法对非石灰质土壤提取过量BCR连续提取法对石灰质土壤提取不足的缺点。优化后的连续提取方法数据稳定可靠,可作为重金属形态分析方法使用。     

Solid phase partitioning of metals in Managed Realignment soils: laboratory studies in timed soil sea-water batch mixtures

Geochemical interactions between agricultural soil and sea-water at a salt marsh restoration Managed Realignment site in Essex, UK were simulated through a series of laboratory experiments. Soil from the site was mixed with sea-water for 0–30 days in batch reactors. The resulting soil residue was subjected to a modified version of the Tessier sequential extraction procedure involving leaching with 5 reagents of progressively increasing strength. Differences in total metals extracted by the series of sequential extractions in comparison to a single digest hindered interpretation of data. Analysis of the sequential extracts and residual sea-water for a suite of metals revealed that Na, Mg and K were sorbed from sea-water to the soils, and from the readily exchangeable fraction of the soil, Ba, Ca, Mn, Ni and Zn were depleted. In the more strongly held fractions extractability of a number of metals, most notably Al, Fe and K by acid leaches was observed to increase as a result of contact with sea-water. The extractability of the heavy metals Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn from these tightly held fractions was also observed to increase as a result of sea-water mixing. However, results imply that tidal inundation of the soils at the site will not result in significant leaching of metals to the environment.     

Screening of extraction methods for Cd and As bioavailability prediction in rhizospheric soil using multivariate analyses

Heavy metals in tailings and mining wastes from abandoned mines can be released into adjacent agricultural field and bioaccumulated in crops or vegetables. Therefore, prediction of metal bioavailability has become an important issue to prevent adverse effect of bioaccumulated metals on human health. In this study, single and sequential extraction methods were compared using multivariate analysis to predict the bioavailability of Cd and As in contaminated rhizosphere soils. Single extraction using 0.1 M HCl for Cd and 1.0 M HCl for As had an extraction efficiency of 8–12% for soil Cd and 14–17% for soil As compared to total concentration extracted with aqua regia. Using sequential extraction, Fe–Mn-bound Cd (FR3) and residual Cd (FR5) were the dominant fractions representing 43 and 41% of total Cd concentration. For As, the strongly absorbed form (FR2) was the most abundant chemical fraction showing 45–54% of the total As concentration in soil. Multivariate analyses showed that single extraction with HCl and total concentration of Cd and As in soil were significantly correlated to potato and green onion plant tissue metal concentration. Although little information was obtained with multiple regression analysis because of multicollinearity of variables, the result of principle component analysis (PCA) revealed that the highest positive loading was obtained using total concentration of Cd and As in soil in the first principle component (PC1). In addition, total concentration of Cd and As in soil was independently grouped with other chemical fractions by cluster analysis. Therefore, the overall result of this research indicated that total concentrations of Cd and As in rhizosphere soils were the best predictors of bioavailability of heavy metals in these contaminated soils.     

Comparaison d'extractions séquentielles et cinétiques pour la spéciation de As dans des sols sableux contaminés

We compared the results obtained by sequential extraction combined with physical fractionation to those obtained by kinetics for As speciation in slightly polluted soils through irrigation. The soil samples were sieved through a 50-μm mesh. Particulate organic matter was manually sorted and joined to the less than 50-μm fractions. This last fraction was sequentially extracted with phosphates, NaOH and hydroxylamine + acetic acid at 90 °C. Kinetic extractions by EDTA were also performed on whole samples. Results show that As originating from irrigation was rather mobile. The different compartments defined by the sequential extraction were in agreement with those defines by kinetics. To cite this article: S. Cornu et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Metals in sediments of springs and cave streams as environmental indicators in karst areas

The content of heavy metals and arsenic in sediments of karst streams in southern Missouri was investigated for its potential use as an indicator of pollution. A three-step sequential extraction procedure was utilized for this purpose. The amount of trace elements bound to each extraction phase gives insight of its availability and geochemical dependence. These results were complemented with analyses of correlation and spatial variability. Although sediments collected in this study remained below EPAs critical value guidelines, concentration in the mobile phases and higher normalized Mn values successfully identified sites with concentrations higher than background levels. Correlation among elements was poor in most cases; among the trace metals only Cu and Zn correlated while Pb correlated with Ca, Al, Mn and Fe. Spatial variability analysis confirmed that natural variation among adjacent sediment samples is a common occurrence. The urban spring Ward Branch showed the highest levels of Cr, Zn, Pb and As.     

土壤活性组分提取剂的研制及初步试验结果

土壤的活性组分能够反映土壤实际污染状况及对环境的危害,选择适当的土壤浸提剂是准确评价土壤活性组分的关键技术,已有的提取剂局限于不同元素和不同土壤类型,提取步骤繁琐,实验周期长,重现性不高。本文研制了一种提取土壤中活性组分的新型提取剂——AIE,提取剂组成为0.25 mol/L醋酸-0.25 mol/L醋酸铵-0.005 mol/L DTPA-0.2%对苯二酚混合溶液。国家标准物质提取实验表明,AIE提取剂能够有效提取土壤中多种元素的活性组分(有效态磷、有效态钾、有效态锰、有效态铜),具有很好的通用性。AIE提取剂与三种通用提取剂(Mehlich 3、AB-DTPA、盐酸)的实验比较表明,AIE对作物营养组分盐基离子(K、Na、Ca、Mg)的提取效果高于AB-DTPA和盐酸,与Mehlich 3的提取量变化规律基本一致;对Fe、Mn、P和重金属元素的提取值70%高于或相当于其他三种提取剂。应用AIE提取土壤的活性组分,适用于提取作物营养组分和重金属元素,既可提取有效态又可提取缓效态,且样品无需针对不同元素做分别处理,多种元素提取方法一致,比已有的提取剂实验周期缩短3~5倍,有利于大批量样品的分析测试;AIE实际应用的重现性较好,大多数元素提取量的相对标准偏差低于8%;AIE的缓冲能力强,提取液的pH值升高幅度(0.07~0.9)均未超过缓冲溶液的缓冲范围,可同时适用于酸性和碱性土壤。总体上AIE通用性优于Mehlich 3和AB-DTPA提取剂,是已有提取分析方法的补充和完善。     

Partitioning of transition metals in oxidised and reduced zones of sulphide-bearing fine-grained sediments

Distribution and forms of transition metals (Ti, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, V and Cr) were investigated in oxidised, partly oxidised and reduced zones of sulphide-bearing fine-grained sediments located in the coastal areas of western Finland. Samples for the analysis and study of vertical distribution of elements were taken from each vertical 10 cm section in pits ranging in depth between 2 and 3 metres, while bulk samples for characterisation of species and forms of metals were taken from 3 zones in each pit: the acid sulphate soil (characterised by acid and oxidising conditions), transition zone (characterised by a steep pH gradient and partly oxidising conditions) and the reduced zone (pH >6). The former samples were digested in aqua regia (3:1:2 HCl:HNO₃:H₂O), while the latter were digested in aqua regia and hot concentrated acids (HClO₄–HNO₃–HCl–HF) and were subjected to extractions with acid ammonium acetate, H₂O₂ and acid ammonium oxalate. Each leachate was analysed for metals with ICP–AES.The vertical variation in the concentrations of Ti were small at all the studied sites indicating that the sediments are homogeneous and that the total losses of other elements from the soil profiles (acid sulphate soil+transition zone) are not extensive. Field observations, extractions with ammonium oxalate, and concentration–variation patterns indicated that Fe-oxide is largely precipitated and retained also in these acid soils. There are, however, indications of redistribution of Fe within the soil profiles. The results also demonstrated that Mn, Ni, Zn, Co and Cu have been lost in considerable amounts from the acid sulphate soils. However, whereas Mn in general has been lost throughout the soil profile, part of the Zn, Ni and Co released in the acid sulphate soils have migrated downward and been reimmobilised in the transition zone immediately above the reduced zone. Also Cu has been lost from the acid sulphate soil, but generally in smaller proportions than Mn, Zn, Ni and Co. Dissolved metal sulphides seem to be major sources of the mobilised metal fractions. A main part of the V and Cr in the sediments are associated with weathering-resistant minerals. These metals are therefore, like Ti, only to a limited extent mobilised by the oxidation of the sulphide-bearing sediments.     

Heavy metals deposited from the atmosphere on upland Scottish soils: Chemical and lead isotope studies of the association of metals with soil components

Three soil profiles taken from the Hartwood Research Station in Central Scotland have been analyzed using chemical digestion and extraction techniques to investigate the chemical association of heavy metals deposited from the atmosphere. Total digestion, EDTA extraction and the BCR (Bureau Communitaire de Reference) sequential extraction procedure were used. In addition, lead isotope ratios in the whole soils and in the fractions from the sequential extraction procedure were measured using thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. All the digestion and extraction procedures gave clear indication of enhanced concentrations of heavy metals in surface soils, in particular for lead and zinc. Whereas total digestion gave a good indication of the heavy metal status of the soils, the extraction procedures were necessary to provide information on chemical association of the metals with soil components, information needed to understand the soil processes involved in mobilization of metals. Lead isotope analysis of the whole soils revealed a consistent picture of lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in surface soils (1.140-1.147) than in soils at 20-30 cm depth (1.182-1.190). The steady progression from the lower to higher ratios down the profile was clear indication that anthropogenic lead had penetrated to some degree into the deeper soils. The combination of sequential extraction and lead isotope analysis proved to be a powerful approach to studying this effect in more detail and showed that the fractions extractable from 20 to 30 cm soils contained lead with much lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (1.174-1.178) than the residual fraction (1.196-1.200). As the extractable fractions contained ≥85% of the lead in the soil, a substantial portion of lead at 20-30 cm depth was of anthropogenic origin. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios of 1.174-1.178 found in the extractable fractions suggested that the mobile component of the anthropogenic lead was that deposited before the introduction of leaded petrol.     

Trace Metal Speciation of USGS Reference Sample MAG-I

The USGS reference sample marine mud MAG-1 has been subjected to a sequential extraction procedure designed to partition the constituent trace metals into five fractions: I-exchangeable; II- bound to carbonates; III-bound to Fe-Mn oxides; IV- bound to organic matter; V- residual. The analytical approach involved successive chemical extractions and the subsequent determination of trace metal concentrations (Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn; Fe, Mn) in the leachates by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The chemical speciation results obtained on four replicate sub-samples demonstrate that the coefficients of variation for metal concentrations in the individual fractions are generally better than + 10%. Comparison with published values for total trace metal concentrations in the MAG-1 sample suggests that the overall accuracy of the chemical extraction procedure is satisfactory.     

土壤和沉积物中元素的化学形态及其顺序提取法

介绍了形态分析的概念和化学形态分析方法，探讨了广泛应用于土壤、沉积物重金属形态分析中的Tessier和BCR顺序提取方案及其异同，综述了顺序提取方法在地球化学、环境科学、农业科学等方面的应用及中国相关标准物质的研制现状。     

Application of the BCR sequential extraction scheme to dredged pond sediments contaminated by Pb–Zn mining: A combined geochemical and mineralogical approach

The modified BCR sequential extraction procedure [Rauret, G., López-Sanchez, J., Sauquillo, A., Rubio, R., Davidson, C., Ure, A., Quevauviller, Ph., 1999. Improvement of the BCR three step sequential extraction procedure prior to certification of new soil and sediment reference materials. J. Environ. Monit. 1, 57–60.] was applied to 4 sediments from a mine tailing pond in La Calamine (East-Belgium). The results showed a very different behaviour of different samples towards the same extraction scheme. In samples with an elevated acid neutralizing capacity, a significant increase in the pH of the extracts was measured after the first two extraction steps. Other artefacts, such as readsorption of metals and precipitation could be deduced by comparing X-ray diffraction patterns after different extraction steps. For example, anglesite was effectively dissolved during the acid extraction step (step 1) but relatively low Pb concentrations were measured in the CH₃COOH extract because of the readsorption of Pb. Mineralogical analysis of the sediments after each extraction step also indicated the incomplete oxidation of sulphides by H₂O₂. Besides a mineralogical analysis, the monitoring of the pH of the extracts and the analysis of major elements (Fe, Ca, Al, Mn) can be helpful for the interpretation of the results of the sequential extraction.The combination of sequential extractions with mineralogical sample investigation provided information on the reactivity and solubility of minerals in the samples. This improved the interpretation, at least within the detection limits of the mineralogical analysis applied. Besides the improved interpretation of the results of the sequential extractions for sediments in which minerals are identified, the information concerning the reactivity of minerals is an important tool to evaluate the risk associated with contaminated sediments.     

Dissolution of hydroxide minerals in the 1 M sodium acetate,ph 5, extracting solution in sequential extraction schemes

Used extensively in exploration geology to simulate the natural weathering of mineral deposits, sequential extractions have found new use in environmental studies determining the processes governing metal transport in the environment as well as estimating the bioavailability of contaminants in soils, sediments and waste materials. Many extracting solutions and extraction sequences can be found in the literature and the abilities of any given extracting solution to solubilise a target component of a soil/sediment system is much debated. A study into the mechanisms of aqueous metal uptake by bauxite refinery residues (red mud) revealed the need to establish the selectivity of the sodium acetate solution used to extract metals from carbonates, an extracting solution common to most sequential extraction schemes. The phase extractability of copper and lead removed from solution by hydroxide and carbonate compounds was used to demonstrate and define the abilities of the sodium acetate extracting solution. The experiments in this study demonstrate that 1 M Na acetate, pH 5, also releases metals associated with hydroxide minerals. The impact of these findings will depend on the chemistry and mineralogy of the soil/sediment system or waste material studied.     

Chemical partitioning of trace and major elements in soils contaminated by mining and smelting activities

Soils from historical Pb mining and smelting areas in Derbyshire, England have been analysed by a 5-step sequential extraction procedure, with multielement determination on extraction solutions at each step by ICP-AES. Each of the chemical fractions is operationally defined as: (i) exchangeable; (ii) bound to carbonates or specifically adsorbed; (iii) bound to Fe–Mn oxides; (iv) bound to organic matter and sulphides; (v) residual. The precision was estimated to be about 5%, and the overall recovery rates were between 85 and 110%. The carbonate/specifically adsorbed and Fe–Mn oxide phases are the largest fractions for Pb in soils contaminated by both mining and smelting. Most of the Zn is associated with Fe–Mn oxide and the residual fractions. Cadmium is concentrated in the first 3 extraction steps, particularly in the exchangeable phase. The most marked difference found between soils from the mining and smelting sites is the much higher concentrations and proportions of metals in the exchangeable fraction at the latter sites. This indicates greater mobility and potential bioavailability of Pb, Zn and Cd in soils at the smelting sites than in those in the mining area. The most important fraction for Fe and Al is the residual phase, followed by the Fe–Mn oxide forms. In contrast, the Fe–Mn oxide fraction is the dominant phase for Mn in these soils. In the mining area, most of the Ca is in the carbonate fraction (CaCO₃), while the exchangeable and residual phases are the main fractions for Ca at the smelting sites. Phosphorus is mainly in the residual and organic fractions in both areas. The exchangeable fractions of Pb, Zn and Cd in soils were found to be significantly related to the concentrations of these metals in pasture herbage.     

Selective sequential dissolution of organic-rich stream sediments from Talvivaara, Finland

Organic-rich stream sediments, a widely used material in geochemical prospecting in Finland, were investigated by analyzing Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn after a series of selective extractions.Forty-seven organic-rich stream-sediment samples were collected in the vicinity of a sulphide mineralization in Talvivaara, eastern Finland. Loss on ignition of the samples at 500°C was 20–95%. pH of the samples, measured in the water pressed from the samples, was 3.4–6.2 with a mean of 4.2.The < 0.5 mm grain-size fraction was subjected to a sequential extraction as follows: NH₄-acetate for exchangeable cations; cold NH₂OH·HCl for dissolution of Mn oxides; H₂O₂ for destruction of organic material; hot NH₂OH·HCl for dissolution of Fe oxides; HF/HClO₄/aqua regia for dissolving the residue. Each extraction was analyzed by flame AAS for Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn.Manganese and Co are mostly in exchangeable form and in the residue, while the proportion complexed by the organic components is minimal. Iron and Ni own a lot of exchangeable character although a significant proportion of these elements is complexed by the organic components. Most of Cu is in organic form. Zinc is the element most evenly distributed between extractions.     

德安锑矿区土壤中锑的形态分析及生物可给性初探

按Tessier连续浸提法对德安锑矿区土壤样品进行了分析,得出锑的存在状态主要以残渣态为主,其次是Fe/Mn结合态,有机/硫化物结合态和碳酸盐结合态,可交换态和水溶态占的比率最小。矿区土壤中锑生物可利用态锑占0.52%~3.51%,其浓度一般在1.78~17.48μg/g,中等可利用态占1.04%~5.56%,生物难利用态锑的浓度占92.1%~98.4%。     

Influence of extractable soil manganese on oxidation capacity of different soils in Korea

We examined the relationship between soil oxidation capacity and extractable soil manganese, iron oxides, and other soil properties. The Korean soils examined in this study exhibited low to medium Cr oxidation capacities, oxidizing 0.00–0.47 mmol/kg, except for TG-4 soils, which had the highest capacity for oxidizing added Cr(III) [>1.01 mmol/kg of oxidized Cr(VI)]. TG and US soils, with high Mn contents, had relatively high oxidation capacities. The Mn amounts extracted by dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) (Mn^d), NH₂OH·HCl (Mn^h), and hydroquinone (Mn^r) were generally very similar, except for the YS1 soils, and were well correlated. Only small proportions of either total Mn or DCB-extractable Mn were extracted by NH₂OH·HCl and hydroquinone in the YS1 soils, suggesting inclusion of NH₂OH·HCl and hydroquinone-resistant Mn oxides, because these extractants are weaker reductants than DCB. No Cr oxidation test results were closely related to total Mn concentrations, but Mn^d, Mn^h, and Mn^r showed a relatively high correlation with the Cr tests (r = 0.655–0.851; P < 0.01). The concentrations of Mn^d and Mn^h were better correlated with the Cr oxidation tests than was the Mn^r concentration, suggesting that the oxidation capacity of our soil samples can be better explained by Mn^d and Mn^h than by Mn^r. The first component in principal components analysis indicated that extractable soil Mn was a main factor controlling net Cr oxidation in the soils. Total soil Mn, Fe oxides, and the clay fraction are crucial for predicting the mobility of pollutants and heavy metals in soils. The second principal component indicated that the presence of Fe oxides in soils had a significant relationship with the clay fraction and total Mn oxide, and was also related to heavy-metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, and Cu, but not Pb).     

Combination of single and sequential chemical extractions to study the mobility and host phases of potentially toxic elements in airborne particulate matter

Risk assessment of metals associated to airborne particulate matter (PM) has usually been based on the analysis of their total concentrations, which is a poor indicator of metal mobility. Chemical fractionation processes may provide an additional level of information, however, chemical complexity and small sample sizes do not allow to combine several extraction methods. Additionally, analysing the metal concentrations during the extractions exceptionally provides restricted information about metals’ speciation. To overcome these limitations we collected total suspended particulate matter (TSP) samples from the air filters placed in the air supply channel of methane-heated turbines of thermal power stations which allows collecting large amounts of TSP materials. Additionally, we combined single and sequential chemical extractions in which not only the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) but also that of the major chemical components (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Ti) were analysed. Our aims were to study these metals’ mobility and speciation through the study of their association to major chemical components.Accumulation of the studied PTEs in the TSP material suggests moderate contamination for Ni, Cd and Cr whereas a heavy one for Cu, Zn and Pb. Three groups of these PTEs could be distinguished based on their mobility. The highly mobile Zn and Cd (large ratios of water and weak acid soluble fractions) can be considered as especially harmful elements to environment. The moderately mobile Pb and Cu (large ratios of reducible and oxidizable fractions, respectively) may potentially have a negative effect on the environment, whereas the immobile Cr and Ni cannot be expected to pose a serious risk. Based on the statistical evaluation of extraction data, the potential phases for Zn and Cu are presented by metal-sulphates, -nitrates, -chlorides, -carbonates and -hydroxides, as well as sorbed forms. Lead primarily hosted by metal-carbonates and sorbed forms, as well as by -hydroxides, whereas Cu by organic matter. Finally, Cr and Ni are mostly incorporated into very resistant phases, most probably by magnetite or other resistant metal-oxides.Combination of single and sequential extractions, as well as that of the analysis of not only the target elements but also the major chemical components were found to be a very effective tool to study the host phases of PTEs in the TSP material. The necessity for relatively large sample amounts for such analyses could be fulfilled using special sampling methodology; however, obvious disadvantages of this kind of sampling must be taken into account when resulted data are evaluated.