Cd, Cu and Zn mobility in contaminated sediments from an infiltration basin colonized by wild plants: the case of Phalaris arundinacea and Typha latifolia

Infiltration basins are shallow reservoirs in which stormwater is temporarily collected in order to reduce water volume in downstream networks. The settling of stormwater particles leads to a contaminated sediment layer. Wild plants can colonize these basins and can also play a role on the fate of heavy metals either directly by their uptake or indirectly by modification of physico-chemical characteristics of the sediment and therefore by modification of the mobility of heavy metals. The aim of this study, carried out in a vegetated infiltration basin, is to assess Cd, Cu and Zn mobility in two zones colonized by different species, Phalaris arundinacea and Typha latifolia. The study was carried out using three single chemical extractions: CaCl2 for the exchangeable phase, acetate buffer for the acido-soluble fraction and diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) for the fraction associated to the organic matter. Zn and Cd are mainly associated to carbonated and organic matter phases of the sediment. Moreover, acetate buffer-extractable Zn contents are strongly correlated to carbonates content in the sediment. DTPA-extractable Cu contents are strongly correlated with organic carbon sediment contents. We have also noted that extractable contents were significantly different between both zones whatever the metal.