TITLE:
Studying the Application and Advances of Diffusive Gradients in-Thin Films Techniques (DGTs) to Constrain Mobility and Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in Soils
AUTHORS:
Georges Martial Ndzana, Alex Dortie Kolleh, Kashif Ali Kubar, Louis Marie Bondje Bidjeck, Etienne Bekoa, Primus Azinwi Tamfuh, Damien Henri Odigui Ahanda, Thierry Mamert Abodo Koa, Emile Temgoua, Monique Abossolo-Angue Abane, Lucien Dieudonné Bitom
KEYWORDS:
DGT, Gels, Mobility, Bioavailability, Soil, Heavy Metals
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.9 No.5,
May
31,
2021
ABSTRACT: The aim of this review is to investigate the
application and latest developments of the Diffusive Gradients in-thin films
(DGT) with a focus on the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in soil.
Soil chemical extractions are extensively used to predict nutrients elements in
the soil. However, these measurements have their weaknesses and shortcomings.
Comparing DGT with conventional extraction methods, DGT is a sampling technique
with significant advantages; including speciation capabilities, sensitivity,
time-in- tegrated signal, low risk of contamination and time averaged
concentrations. These findings have strengthened the usefulness of the DGT
technique as a potential monitoring tool for soil with heavy metal
contamination. Studies which have used the DGT technique to evaluate processes
important to bioavailability have been booming in the last 13 years, especially
its application in soils science. Some recent studies have shown a good relationship
between the measurement of metals concentrations in soil and plant by DGT, and
cohesive results have been obtained from these measurements when they are based
on the DGT technique. DGT is a newly established procedure to assess the
bioavailability of trace elements in sediments and soils, and its applications
are still in the early stage of testing. Therefore, future application of DGT
is likely to include the studies of HMs contamination in soil for risk
assessment and transfer rates to the food chain, as some studies have indicated
the potential of DGT in these areas.