Toxicity assessment of coal ash after 50 years of weathering: integration of multielement analysis and biological endpoints

Key Points

• This research aims to evaluate the toxicity of coal ash after decades of weathering by integrating chemical and biological assessments.
• Analyzed coal ash from two disposal sites.
• Performed multielement analysis to identify toxic elements.
• Assessed phytotoxic effects using biological endpoints.
• Identified significant levels of toxic elements in coal ash.
• Observed adverse effects on plant growth related to coal ash exposure.
• Demonstrated that weathered coal ash poses ongoing environmental risks.

Abstract