Derivation of soil thresholds for arsenic applying species sensitivity distribution

It is essential to establish an accurate soil threshold for the implementation of soil management practices. This study takes root vegetable as an example to derive soil thresholds for arsenic (As) based on the food quality standard using species sensitivity distribution (SSD). A soil type-specific bioconcentration factor (BCF, ratio ofAs concentration in plant to that in soil) generated from soil with a properAs concentration gradient was calculated and applied in the derivation of soil thresholds instead of a generic BCF value to minimize the uncertainty. The derived soil thresholds were dependent on the combination of soil pH and iron oxide (Fe-OX) content.