Heavy metals in recovered fines from construction and demolition debris recycling facilities in Florida

Sci Total Environ. 2004 Oct 1;332(1-3):1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.03.011.

Abstract

A major product recovered from the processing and recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) debris is screened soil, also referred to as fines. A proposed reuse option for C&D debris fines is fill material, typically in construction projects as a substitute for natural soil. Waste material that is reused in a manner similar to soil must first be characterized to examine potential risks to human health and the environment. In Florida, samples of C&D debris fines from 13 C&D debris recycling facilities were characterized for 11 total and leachable heavy metal concentrations. Total metal concentration results (mg/kg) were compared to existing data on background Florida soil concentrations and to Florida's risk-based soil cleanup target levels (SCTLs). All of the detected metals were found to be elevated with respect to background. The 95% upper confidence level of arsenic from 99 samples was 3.2 mg/kg; arsenic presented the greatest limitation to reuse when compared to the SCTLs. Lead was not found to pose a major problem, likely because of the relatively new building infrastructure in Florida, which results in less demolition debris and less material impacted by lead-based paint. The results of batch leaching tests conducted using simulated rainwater (mg/l) were compared directly to risk-based groundwater levels for Florida and were found not to pose a risk using existing risk assessment policies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / analysis
  • Arsenic / standards
  • Conservation of Natural Resources*
  • Construction Materials / analysis*
  • Construction Materials / standards
  • Facility Design and Construction
  • Florida
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis*
  • Metals, Heavy / standards
  • Public Health
  • Refuse Disposal / methods*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Soil / analysis
  • Soil Pollutants

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Arsenic