TELLURIUM NITRATE

Ecotoxicity Assessment of Tellurium Nitrates and Oxides

Kolesnikov, Sergey, et al. Emerging Contaminants, 2024, 10(3), 100334.

This study assessed the ecotoxicity of tellurium (Te) compounds, specifically oxides and nitrates, in various soil types, including Haplic Chernozem (Loamic), Eutric Cambisol, and Eutric Arenosol.
Key Findings
· The contamination of Haplic Chernozem (Loamic), Eutric Cambisol, and Eutric Arenosol with Te compounds led to a decline in bacterial numbers, catalase activity, dehydrogenase activity, and the growth of wheat roots and shoots. Generally, a direct correlation was found between the concentration of Te and the extent of soil property degradation. Notably, tellurium nitrate exhibited greater ecotoxicity than the oxide form.
· The evaluation of soil biological activity throughout the observation period showed that Te contamination had the strongest negative effects at 10 and 30 days after exposure but demonstrated signs of biological property recovery by day 90. Haplic Chernozem (Loamic) showed better resistance to Te contamination than Eutric Cambisol and Eutric Arenosol because its coarse texture along with neutral pH and high humus content reduced contaminant movement. These results support environmental risk assessment models for Te soil contamination and help set safe Te concentration limits across different soil types.