ABSTRACT
Concerns regarding heavy metal contamination in the environment affecting all ecosystem components including aquatic and terrestrial systems have been identified, with increasing attention to limiting their bioavailability in the soil and groundwater. Metal mining, smelting, and processing throughout the world have contaminated soils with heavy metals in excess of natural soil background concentrations. Such activities introduce metal contaminants into the environment through gaseous and particulate emissions, waste liquids, and solid wastes. In addition to the soil contamination, many mining and smelting sites have considerable surface water and groundwater contamination from heavy metals released and transported from contaminated soils. This contamination endangers water supply resources as well as the soil quality.
