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Lead (Pb) contamination of soils is of global concern due to the devastating impacts of Pb exposure in children. Because early-life exposure to Pb has long-lasting health effects, reducing exposure in children is a critical public health goal that has intensified research on the conversion of soil Pb to low bioavailability phases. Recently, plumbojarosite (PLJ) conversion of highly available soil Pb was found to decrease Pb relative bioavailability (RBA <10%). However, there is sparse information concerning interactions between Pb and other elements when contaminated soil, pre- and post-remediation, is ingested and moves through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Addressing this may inform drivers of effective chemical remediation strategies. Here, we utilize bulk and micro-focused Pb X-ray absorption spectroscopy to probe elemental interactions and Pb speciation in mouse diet, cecum, and feces samples following ingestion of contaminated soils pre- and post-PLJ treatment. RBA of treated soils was less than 1% with PLJ phases transiting the GIT with little absorption. In contrast, Pb associated with organics was predominantly found in the cecum. These results are consistent with transit of insoluble PLJ to feces following ingestion. The expanded understanding of Pb interactions during GIT transit complements our knowledge of elemental interactions with Pb that occur at higher levels of biological organization.

Permafrost contains a large (1700 Pg C) terrestrial pool of organic matter (OM) that is susceptible to degradation as global temperatures increase. Of particular importance is syngenetic Yedoma permafrost containing high OM content. Reactive iron phases promote stabilizing interactions between OM and soil minerals and this stabilization may be of increasing importance in permafrost as the thawed surface region ("active layer") deepens. However, there is limited understanding of Fe and other soil mineral phase associations with OM carbon (C) moieties in permafrost soils. To elucidate the elemental associations involved in organomineral complexation within permafrost systems, soil cores spanning a Pleistocene permafrost chronosequence (19,000, 27,000, and 36,000 years old) were collected from an underground tunnel near Fairbanks, Alaska. Subsamples were analyzed via scanning transmission X-ray microscopy-near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy at the nano- to microscale. Amino acid-rich moieties decreased in abundance across the chronosequence. Strong correlations between C and Fe with discrete Fe(III) or Fe(II) regions selectively associated with specific OM moieties were observed. Additionally, Ca coassociated with C through potential cation bridging mechanisms. Results indicate Fe(III), Fe(II), and mixed valence phases associated with OM throughout diverse permafrost environments, suggesting that organomineral complexation is crucial to predict C stability as permafrost systems warm.