Environmental context. Although land remediation programs for bauxite residues aim at vegetation coverage, the stability of compounds in the residues with acids produced by the vegetation has not been investigated. We show that, despite the instability of caustic components in the residues (negative effects on plant development), this instability actually assists in neutralising acidic soils. These results further affirm the suitability and sustainability of current land remediation programs for bauxite residues in terms of minimising acidic soil formation.

Environmental context. Lead is a common and persistent soil and water contaminant. This study provides a unique set of parameters for chemical models that can be used for predicting Pb adsorption by soil. The suggested modelling approach can be used to quantitatively predict Pb retention and release in soils with changing environmental conditions.

Environmental context. Uranium is a key contaminant of concern because of its high persistence in the environment and toxicity to organisms. The bicarbonate ion is an important complexing agent for uranyl ions and one of the main variables affecting its dissolution. Results from this investigation provide rate law parameters for the dissolution kinetics of synthetic sodium autunite that can influence uranium mobility in the subsurface.

Environmental context. Total organofluorine and known fluorosurfactants were quantified in 11 aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) used to extinguish fires in Ontario, Canada, and one commercial AFFF product. By comparing the concentrations of known fluorosurfactants with the total organofluorine, less than 10 % of the fluorosurfactants were identified in half of the samples. Our biodegradation experiment with one of the fluorosurfactants using waste-water treatment plant sludge showed that it was a potential source of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, which are persistent in the environment.