Influence of Sewage Sludge Compost on Heavy Metals in Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation: A Large-Scale Field Study for Three Years

Abstract

Using sewage sludge compost (SSC) for abandoned mine land reclamation supports ecological sustainability, but the environmental behavior of heavy metals in this process lacks systematic field validation. Here we analyzed the dynamic changes in heavy metal composition in topsoil, surface runoff, and subsurface infiltration after large-scale reclamation. Results show that SSC application promoted plant growth by 2~4 times, enhanced the physicochemical structure of the topsoil, and increased the levels of organic matter and inorganic nutrients. Most heavy metals exhibited higher retention in SSC-treated areas compared to non-SSC areas; nonetheless, they remained within low toxicity risk levels overall. Surface runoff from areas with high SSC content exhibited elevated concentrations of heavy metals. In the 2020-M225 sample, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were at least 1.5 times that of M0. Mixing application of SSC further mitigated the subsurface migration of Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn compared to S120, with concentrations of As, Cr, Pb, and Zn in 2020-M225 being less than 1/10 of those in M0. Correlation analysis demonstrates that SSC regulated topsoil pH and the contents of organic matter, phosphorus, and Fe and Al (hydr)oxides, which synergistically enhanced the adsorption and complexation of most toxic heavy metals, thereby reducing their migratory pollution over time. This study suggests that practical SSC application (up to 225 t/ha) results in long-term effects on heavy metals characterized by in-situ multi-effect stabilization, rather than increasing overall environmental risks, and provides a technological foundation for ensuring the safe use of SSC in mine reclamation.