Soil pollution and toxicity have been investigated in the Gardanne area (southern France) at a range of sites around a recognized pollution source, a bauxite processing plant (BPP), and a power plant (PP). Soil samples were submitted to inorganic and organic analyses and tested for toxicity in two invertebrate models. Inorganic analysis was based on determining elemental concentrations by ICP-MS, encompassing a total of 26 elements including 13 rare earth elements (REEs), of the soil samples and their leachates after 24 or 48 h in seawater. Organic analyses were performed by measuring the sums of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and of total hydrocarbons (C-10 to C-40). Bioassays were carried out on the early life stages of three sea urchin species (Arbacia lixula, Paracentrotus lividus and Sphaerechinus granularis), and on a nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans). Sea urchin bioassays were evaluated by the effects of soil samples (0.1–0.5% dry wt/vol) on developing embryos and on sperm, and scored as: a) % developmental defects, b) inhibition of sperm fertilization success and offspring damage, and c) frequencies of mitotic aberrations. C. elegans 24 h-mortality assay showed significant toxicity associated with soil samples. The effects of soil samples showed heightened toxicity at two groups of sites, close to the BPP main entrance and around the PP, which was consistent with the highest concentrations found for metals and PAHs, respectively. Total hydrocarbon concentrations displayed high concentrations both close to BPP main entrance and to the PP. Further studies of the health effects of such materials in Gardanne are warranted.

在法国南部的Gardanne地区，对污染的污染和毒性进行了调查，研究范围围绕公认的污染源，铝土矿加工厂（BPP）和电厂（PP）。将土壤样品进行了无机和有机分析，并在两种无脊椎动物模型中测试了毒性。无机分析基于ICP-MS测定元素浓度，其中包括海水中24小时或48小时后的土壤样品及其渗滤液中的总共26种元素，包括13种稀土元素（REE）。通过测量16种多环芳烃（PAH）和总烃（C-10至C-40）的总和进行有机分析。生物测定在三海的早期生命阶段海胆物种进行（Arbacia lixula，Paracentrotus苋和线虫（Sphaerechinus granis）以及线虫（秀丽隐杆线虫（Caenorhabditis elegans））上。通过对土壤样本（0.1-0.5％干重/体积）对发育中的胚胎和精子的影响评估海胆生物测定法，并将其评分为：a）发育缺陷百分比，b）抑制精子受精成功和后代损害，以及c）有丝分裂畸变的频率。秀丽隐杆线虫24 h死亡率测定显示与土壤样品有关的显着毒性。土壤样品的影响表明，在靠近BPP主入口和PP周围的两处场所，毒性都增强了，这分别与金属和PAHs的最高浓度一致。总烃浓度在靠近BPP主入口和PP处均显示出高浓度。必须在Gardanne中进一步研究此类材料对健康的影响。