公路旁土壤中水分和重金属的迁移

Roads with very high traffic loads in regions where soils are low in both pH and sorption capacity might be a source of percolation water loaded with heavy metals. Looking at some ＂worst case＂ scenarios, this study focused on the input of traffic related pollutants and on Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr concentrations in the soil matrix and soil solution, respectively. The analysis also included pH and electrical conductivity and at some sites DOC. The investigations were carried out on sandy soils with more or less low pH values at four motorway sites in Germany. The average of daily traffic was about 50 000 up to 90 000 vehicles. Soil pore water was collected in two soil depths and at four distances from the road. The pH in general decreased with increasing distance from the roadside. The elevated pH near the roadside was presumably caused by deposition of dust and weathering residues of the road asphalt, as well as by infiltration of salt that was used during winter time. At these road sites, increased heavy metal concentrations in the soil matrix as well as in the soil solution were found. However, the concentrations seldom exceeded reference values of the German Soil Protection Act. The soil solution concentrations tended to increase from the road edge to 10 m distance, whereas the concentration in the soil matrix decreased. Elevated DOC concentrations corresponded with elevated Cu concentrations but did not substantially change this tendency. High soil water percolation rates were found near the roads. Thus, even low metal concentrations of percolation water could yield high metal loads in a narrow area beside the road.     

芜湖市工业区土壤重金属污染状况研究

通过对芜湖工业区(四褐山区、马塘区)土壤中重金属污染状况的调查,结果表明:土壤中重金属(Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd)含量绝大部分高于土壤元素背景值。在四褐山工业区,Cu污染最严重,Cd次之;在马塘工业区,Cd污染最严重,Zn次之。土壤中重金属含量基本上与土壤pH呈负相关关系,而重金属总量与可浸提态含量呈正相关关系。土壤中重金属污染来源主要是污水,大气粉尘沉降也是一个重要因素。     

Mobility of Cd and Zn in polluted and unpolluted Spodosols

Leaching of Cd and Zn in polluted acid, well‐drained soils is a critical pathway for groundwater pollution. Models predicting future groundwater contamination with these metals have rarely been validated at the field scale. Spodosol profiles (pH 3.2–4.5) were sampled in an unpolluted (reference) field and in a field contaminated with Cd and Zn through atmospheric deposition near a zinc smelter. Average metal concentrations in the upper horizons were 0.2 mg Cd kg^?1 and 9 mg Zn kg^?1 in the unpolluted field, and 0.8 mg Cd kg^?1 and 71 mg Zn kg^?1 in the contaminated field. Isotopic dilution was used to measure the labile concentration of Cd and Zn, and the metal transport was modelled using measured sorption parameters that describe the distribution between the labile metal pool (instead of the total metal pool) and the solution phase obtained by centrifugation. Solutions were also collected by wick samplers in two polluted and one unpolluted profile at a depth of 70 cm. Concentrations in these solutions were in the order of 15 µg Cd litre^?1 and 0.8 mg Zn litre^?1 for the polluted profiles, and 1 µg Cd litre^?1 and 0.04 mg Zn litre^?1 for the unpolluted profile. The concentrations in these solutions agreed well with those in soil solutions obtained by centrifugation, which supported the use of the local equilibrium assumption (LEA). Present‐day Cd profiles in the polluted field were calculated with the LEA, based on the emission history of the nearby smelter and taking spatial variability into account. Observed and predicted depth profiles agreed reasonably well, but total Cd concentrations in the topsoil were generally underestimated by the model. This may be attributed to the presence of non‐labile Cd in the atmospheric deposition, which was not accounted for in the retrospective modelling. The large concentrations of non‐labile Zn in the topsoil of the polluted field were also indicative that metals in the atmospheric deposition were (partly) in a sparingly soluble form, and that release of these non‐labile metals is a slow process. The presence of non‐labile metals should be taken into account when evaluating metal mobility or predicting their transport.     

Critical Loads of Trace Metals in Soils: a Method of Calculation

Critical load of trace metals in soils is a function of biological uptake, leaching by percolating water, input of the trace metals due to bedrock weathering, and the norms set to protect soils from metal pollution. The exceedance of the critical load is a difference between the calculated load and the measured input of the metals by atmospheric deposition and by application of agrochemicals. A critical time is the time when the concentration of a trace metal in soil, which is the result of all inputs and outputs of the metal in the soil, reaches the value of the norm. Data on biologically important trace metals in a small agricultural catchment in the Czech Republic indicate that the soil concentrations of As, Cd and Pb will reach the norms set for the soils after 4.5, 61, and 980 years, respectively. The present mass balances of Cu and Zn in the soils indicate that their steady-state concentrations will be below the norms so that the atmospheric and agricultural inputs will never overshoot the calculated critical load.     

Atmospheric bulk deposition of trace metals to the Seine river Basin, France: concentrations, sources and evolution from 1988 to 2001 in Paris

Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in bulk atmospheric deposition collected at five stations in the Seine River basin (France), to evaluate sources and fluxes of atmospheric trace metals. Bulk deposition (wet + dry) was sampled weekly from March 2001 to February 2002 for 4 sites and from March to December 2001 for the last one. The concentrations of the elements in bulk deposition (dissolved + particulate form) followed the order: Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd. Concentrations of Zn, Pb and Ni were highly correlated with one another, suggesting a common source, related to the combustion of coal and heavy fuel. Metal concentrations in bulk deposition did not exhibit a high degree of temporal variability over the annual cycle and were not obviously related to meteorological parameters (rainfall, wind). Estimates of the total annual direct atmospheric deposition of metals to the Seine Estuary ranged from 16 kg yr^{? 1} for Cd to 5600 kg yr^{? 1} for Zn. Loadings of Cd, Cu and Ni from direct atmospheric inputs were less than 1% of those contributed by the Seine River and loadings of Pb and Zn represented 1.27% and 1.56% of the Seine contribution. Direct atmospheric inputs are negligible compared to fluvial inputs, but the indirect atmospheric deposition to the estuary was not estimated. Based on these results, trace metal concentrations in Paris have decreased by a factor of 4.6 for Zn and by a factor of 50 for Ni from 1988 to 2001. Of particular interest is the continued decrease in bulk deposition of Pb during this period, underlining the impact of policy initiatives concerning the reduction of lead on emissions in France.     

城郊菜地土壤重金属浓度及芦蒿吸收特征

A total of 222 surface soil samples and 40 plant samples were collected to investigate the spatial distribution and possible sources of soil heavy metals and to know the uptake and translocation of heavy metals from roots to different plant parts in a representative vegetable production area in the Baguazhou Island, a suburb of Nanjing City, East China. The arithmetic mean values of total Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the soils were 0.314, 133, 41.0, 58.0, 31.8, and 114 mg kg^-1, respectively. All of these values were above the topsoil background values in the Nanjing area. Multivariate and geostatistical analyses showed that soil Cd contamination was derived mainly from agricultural practices. In contrast, Cu and Zn were derived mainly from soil parent materials and Pb from atmospheric deposition from highway gasoline stations. Artemisia selengensis, a locally important specialty vegetable, accumulated heavy metals primarily in the edible leaves. The general distribution of heavy metal concentrations in this plant species showed that the highest occurred in the leaves, intermediate in the stems and lowest in the roots. Cd had the highest concentration factor (root-to-soil ratio) and may pose increased health risks in the future to the local population through the consumption of contaminated vegetables.     

Natural and anthropogenic enrichments of As,Cu, Pb,Sb, and Zn in ombrotrophic versus minerotrophic peat bog profiles,Jura Mountains,Switzerland

Peat cores were taken from two contrasting Sphagnum bogs in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland. At Etang de la Gruyere (EGr), 6.5 m of peat has accumulated during the past 10,000 years. In the first 100 cm of this profile there are several distinct peaks in ash content, but the values are well within the range for typical ombrotrophic Sphagnum bogs. There is also considerable variation in the concentrations of major and trace lithogenic metals (Al, Ti, Sc, Ca, Mg, Rb, and Sr), but most of this is simply a reflection of the natural variations in the amount of mineral matter in the peats. The Ca/Mg molar ratios in the peats at EGr are comparable to or lower than the average rainwater composition in this area, showing that this section of the peat core is ombrotrophic (i.e. rainwater-fed). In other words, the inorganic constituents in the surface peats at EGr were supplied exclusively by atmospheric deposition. This peat core, therefore, is suitable for studying the historical record of atmospheric metal deposition. Arsenic, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn are all more abundant in surface and near surface peat layers compared to deeper parts of the profile. Enrichment factors (EFs) for the profile were calculated conservatively by normalizing the metal/Sc ratios of individual peat samples to the average of the five lowest metal/Sc ratios in this part of the core (69–84 cm); these are tentatively assumed to represent pre-Industrial background values. The maximum EFs are approximately 5 times for Cu, 15 times for As, and 30 to 50 times for Pb, Sb, and Zn. At La Tourbière des Genevez (TGe), 1.5 m of peat represents 4,800 years of peat formation. At this site, the ash contents are higher and increase progressively with depth to values which are characteristic of minerotrophic fen peats. The concentration profiles of Al, Ti, Sc, Ca, Mg, Rb, Sr show the same general trend. The Ca/Mg molar ratios of these peats are generally twice the rainwater average, showing that this bog is essentially minerotrophic (ie groundwater-fed). Thus, the inorganic cccstituents in these peats were provided by both atmospheric and hydrospheric processes. Despite this, the Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn concentrations are generally very similar to those at EGr, especially in the uppermost part of the profile, indicating that recent atmospheric inputs also dominate the supply of these metals to this bog. However, the minimum Pb and Sb concentrations in this profile are approximately five times higher than the corresponding values at EGr. The minerotrophic profile at TGT, therefore, could not by itself be used to calculate rates of atmospheric Pb and Sb deposition because it is impossible to distinguish between atmospheric and hydrospheric metal inputs. At TGe, As concentrations increase continuously with depth, reaching concentrations in the deeper, older peats which are more than 50 times higher than the ‘background’ As values at EGr. At this site the natural supply of As by mineral soil water completely masks the recent, elevated inputs contributed by atmospheric deposition. Thus, the peat core from TGe is also unsuitable for studying atmospheric As deposition.     

天津市不同土地利用方式下土壤重金属污染特征及评价

[目的]查明天津市土壤重金属污染的现状及污染源,为防治土壤重金属污染提供理论依据。[方法]选择天津市工业用地、一般农田、水源地、养殖场及蔬菜基地土壤为研究对象,共采集146个样品。通过分析不同土地利用方式下的土壤重金属含量,采用单因子污染指数法和内梅罗综合污染指数法评价重金属污染程度,并对重金属的来源进行解析。[结果]天津市土壤整体污染水平相对较轻,但土壤中均存在不同程度的重金属积累。Pb,Ag和Cd重金属污染面积较大,超标率分别为84.25%,76.71%和68.49%。不同土地利用类型影响到重金属的积累程度和积累类型。在研究区的5种土地利用方式中,蔬菜基地土壤中总重金属的累积程度最高,主要重金属包括Cd,Hg,As,Cr,Cu,Ni,V,Mn,Co和Ag等。工业用地土壤中的Zn污染显著高于其他土地利用方式,而农田土壤和畜禽养殖场土壤中的Pb污染较显著。[结论]天津市土壤污染水平相对较轻。但从土地利用方式来看,工业用地、农田和畜禽养殖场土壤Pb及Zn等污染较重,在土地利用和管理中应该予以关注。     

工业型城乡交错区土壤重金属含量及其空间分异的特征-以无锡典型城乡交错区为例

Phosphorus （P） is necessary for growth and nitrogen fixation, and thus its deficiency is a major factor limiting legume production in most agricultural soils. The effect of phosphorus supply on nodule development and its role in soybeans （Glycine max L.） was studied in a nutrient solution. Plants were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and grown for 35 days in a glasshouse at a day and night temperature of 25℃ and 15℃, respectively. Although increasing P supply increased the concentrations of P and N in the shoots and roots, the external P supply did not significantly affect the P concentration in the nodules, and the N fixed per unit nodule biomass decreased with increasing P supply. The nitrogen content in the shoots correlated well with the P content （r=0.92＊＊）. At an inoculation level of 10^2 cells mL^-1, the P supply did not affect the number of nodules; however, at inoculation levels of 10^3.5 and 10^5 cells mL^-1, increasing P supply increased both the number and size of nodules. Irrespective of the inoculation level, increasing P supply increased the nodule biomass relative to the biomass of the host plant. It is suggested that the P deficiency specifically inhibited the nodule development and thereby the total N2 fixation.     

中国太原市农业土壤的重金属污染状况

To evaluate the current state of the environmental quality of agricultural soils in Taiyuan City, a hotspot for China’s industrial development, the concentrations of 8 heavy metals in soils were investigated by means of extensive sampling in farmlands, forestlands, and grasslands in the city. Statistical analyses and spatial distribution maps were used to identify the most significant heavy metal pollutants. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr were slightly higher than their background values in Taiyuan’s topsoil, but were lower than the maximum permissible concentrations in the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for agricultural soils. Farmland soils in Taiyuan had the highest average Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cr concentrations, but the As and Ni concentrations did not differ significantly among the farmland, forestland, and grasslands. Soil contamination by Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cr was mainly derived from farming practices, especially the use of sewage water for irrigation. In contrast, As and Ni might derive mainly from the soil parent material. The identification of heavy metal sources in agricultural soils may provide a basis for taking appropriate action to protect soil quality.     

SOURCES OF TRACE METALS IN STREAMS AND HEADWATER LAKES IN FINLAND

Distributions of Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, As, and Cd in Finnish surface waters were studied by comparing two data sets: samples from 154 headwater lakes collected by the Water and Environment Administration in 1992 and samples from 1165 headwater streams collected during the environmental geochemical mapping program of the Geological Survey of Finland in 1990. It was expected that headwater lakes with catchments smaller than 1 km² and high lake percentage (ratio of lake area to catchment size) would be more influenced by atmospheric trace metal deposition than the streams, with average catchment size of 30 km². The lakes with highest arsenic concentrations lie in an area with greenstones and arsenic-rich black schists. The same lakes have high copper concentrations, which evidently are derived from the Cu-rich greenstones of the catchment. The high copper concentrations of streams and lakes in the industrialized region of the southwest coast are due to several anthropogenic sources. The highest concentrations of chromium occur in brown stream and lake waters rich in humic matter, while manganese and zinc concentrations, which are controlled by acidity, tend to be elevated in low-pH waters. The high nickel concentrations in lakes in southwestern Finland probably are due to anthropogenic input, while Ni anomalies in stream and lake water in eastern Finland are correlated with high Ni contents of glacial till. The lead concentrations in lakes are mainly of airborne anthropogenic origin. The pattern of atmospheric deposition is reflected in the concentrations of Cd, As, Cu, Zn, and Ni in headwater lakes, but land-use, the natural distribution of metals in the overburden, water acidity, and the amount of humic substances influence the distribution of trace metals in both lakes and streams. Thus the trace metal distribution in headwater lakes cannot be used alone to estimate the contribution of anthropogenic atmospheric deposition to metal anomalies in Finnish surface waters.     

杭州市城市土壤重金属的潜在可淋洗性研究

研究了杭州市城市土壤 8个重金属元素 (Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn、Mn)的含量、形态和潜在可淋洗性。结果表明 ,该城市土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn和Mn均有明显的积累 ,其中Cd、Co、Cr和Ni主要以稳定的残余态为主 ,而Cu、Pb、Zn和Mn则以可提取态为主 ,因此在强还原、强酸性或有利于有机质分解条件下Cu、Pb、Zn、Mn的释放潜力较高。用荷兰能源研究中心的淋洗方法 (pH4 0 )测试表明 ,该市城市土壤的重金属可淋洗性较低 ,在一般条件下该城市土壤重金属不会有较大的释放 ,这与该城市土壤中酸可提取态重金属比例较低并含有较高的有机质及粘粒含量有关     

Urban soil pollution in Damascus,Syria: concentrations and patterns of heavy metals in the soils of the Damascus Ghouta

The objective of the study was to assess the extent and severity of heavy metal contamination of arable soils of the Damascus Ghouta, an area with intensive agricultural production. We examined the present degree and spatial distribution of heavy metal concentrations in 51 soil profiles and in 22 topsoil samples in the Damascus Ghouta. The soils were digested with aqua regia for heavy metal analysis. Pb, Cu and Zn concentrations in the topsoils exhibited anthropogenic increased values. The major sources for the heavy metal contamination in Damascus city are most possibly emissions from vehicles. These emissions transported by air and sewage water together with household and industrial sewage effluents have been considered to be responsible for the increased heavy metal concentrations found in the soils of the central Barada area. However, the values were in most cases below tolerable values of soil for agricultural use. Cr concentrations up to 1800 mg kg⁻¹ were found near a tannery industrial estate. Concerning the health risk of the population bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals seems to be of minor importance, based on the soil properties found in the study area. However, direct ingestion of soil, e.g., by children and inhalation of dust may contribute largely to the accumulation of heavy metal in human and livestock.     

新疆准东煤田土壤重金属来源分析及风险评价

为研究准东矿区土壤重金属来源及生态风险,分析了阜康市至准东矿区中间的3个缓冲区共27个土壤样方的As,Hg,Pb,Cr,Cu,Zn元素重金属含量状况,并利用因子分析、污染指数法、地累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法对各缓冲区土壤重金属进行了污染来源及风险分析。结果表明:除Cr的总体平均值高于新疆土壤背景值外,其余重金属含量均低于背景值。基于土壤重金属空间分布图显示,除Cu,Hg含量高值分布于C区域土壤外,其余重金属高值均出现在准东矿区(A区域)附近土壤,3个区域各重金属所占比例基本一致,距离矿区越远,变异系数呈减少趋势;污染源分析可知,准东矿区89.3%的Hg来源于煤炭燃烧,40.1%的Pb来源于交通运输,19.65%的As来源于大气降尘,Cu和Cr的主要来源为煤尘,其贡献率分别为60.23%和81.57%,其中29.7%的Cu来源于土壤母质,75.1%的Zn来源于土壤母质;基于污染指数法、地累积指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对不同缓冲区土壤污染风险进行了评价,得出土壤整体呈轻度-中度污染水平,距离矿区越远重金属污染状况越轻。As,Hg,Pb和Cr元素生态风险均呈现缓冲区区域A区域B区域C的趋势,距离矿区越远,生态风险越低。潜在生态风险指数与重金属单因子生态风险的大小顺序一致。     

南通市城市边缘带土壤重金属污染现状及评价

通过对不同土地利用方式下的7个样区进行系统的采样测定,对南通城市边缘带土壤重金属富集与污染状况进行了分析与评价。结果显示,研究区土壤未发生明显的重金属污染。但3个样区的土壤有轻度的重金属污染现象,Zn是发生富集最普遍的元素,约76%的样点土壤Zn富集指数>1,18%的样点土壤出现Zn的轻度污染。Cu、Pb等重金属元素导致的污染也在零星样点被发现。方差分析表明,土地利用方式不是导致研究区土壤重金属含量空间差异的主要因素,而土壤类型、样区空间环境与土壤重金属含量及富集、污染有相对密切的关系。     

苦水玫瑰产地土壤重金属污染评价与溯源解析

探明特色农产品产地土壤重金属污染特征及其污染来源可促进特色农作物产业的健康有序发展,对于助力乡村振兴和发展乡村特色产业具有重要意义。该研究以苦水玫瑰产地土壤为研究对象,应用内梅罗综合污染指数法、污染负荷指数法和改进物元可拓模型来量化土壤重金属As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb和Zn的污染水平并进行对比分析,还利用正定因子矩阵模型(positive matrix factorization, PMF)进行土壤重金属溯源解析。结果表明:1)研究区土壤除Hg和Cr的均值低于兰州市和甘肃省土壤背景值之外,其余As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的均值都高于二者的背景值,但所有元素的测定值均低于《土壤环境质量农用地土壤污染风险管控标准(试行)(GB 15 618-2018)》(pH值大于7.5)的筛选值。2)内梅罗综合污染指数和污染负荷指数分别处于0.71～2.02和0.64～1.48之间,均值为1.41和1.17,土壤总体上为轻度污染。改进物元可拓模型评价结果显示研究区土壤总体上处于尚清洁状态,与内梅罗综合污染指数与污染负荷指数评价结果基本一致,但改进物元可拓模型的评价结果更具有实际指导意...     

典型农业区农田土壤重金属潜在生态风险评价

采用野外采样和室内分析相结合的方法,以典型农业区山东禹城的农田表层土壤（0-20 cm）为研究对象,分析了土壤中重金属Cr、Ni、Pb、As、Hg、Cd、Cu和Zn的含量,探讨了土壤中重金属的含量与不同人类活动的关系并进行了潜在生态风险评估。结果显示,8种重金属的含量均超过黄河下游潮土区的背景值。潜在生态风险评估表明,当地的农田土壤Cr、Ni、Pb、As、Cu、Zn有轻度的生态风险,Hg和Cd存在较大的生态风险。城市化进程、畜禽养殖和污灌是造成土壤Cd高生态风险的主要因素,城市化进程和污灌也是造成土壤Hg高生态风险的主要因素。禹城各区域土壤受8种重金属的综合潜在生态风险程度大小依次为城郊农田〉污灌农田〉典型施肥农田〉井灌农田〉引黄灌农田,不同人类活动区域土壤Cd生态风险和8种重金属的综合潜在生态风险存在显著差异。     

Geochemistry of Trace Elements in the Ground Water of Cuttack City,India

The concentration of some trace metals, like Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Cr and Ni, was measured in the potable water of Cuttack City,India during winter, summer and rain events in the course of a two year period. Apart from Fe, all other trace metals fell well within the maximum permissible limit set by WHO for drinking water. On the basis of spatial/temporal variations, weathering of rocks and anthropogenic input were found to be main sources of trace elements in the ground water. The considerable temporal changes indicate that a majority of trace metals is entering the aquifer during rain fall.Factor analysis of the trace element data suggest that Fe, Mn and Cr are interrelated with each other and derived significantly from the aquifer, whereas input of Pb and Co may be due to atmospheric deposition in the study area.     

Spatial distribution of soil heavy metal concentrations as indicator of pollution sources at Mount Križna (Great Fatra,central Slovakia)

The objective of this study was to test the suitability of a simple approach to identify the direction from where airborne heavy metals reach the study area as indication of their sources. We examined the distribution of heavy metals in soil profiles and along differently exposed transects. Samples were taken from 10 soils derived from the same parent material along N-, S-, and SE-exposed transects at 0—10, 10—20, and 20—40 cm depth and analyzed for total Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations. The heavy metal concentrations at 0—10 cm were larger than background concentrations in German arable soils except for Cr (Cd: 0.6—1.8 mg kg^—1; Cr: 39—67; Cu: 40—77; Ni: 87—156; Pb: 48—94; Zn: 71—129; Fe: 26—34 g kg^—1; Mn: 1.1—2.4). Decreasing Cd, Cu, Mn, and Pb concentrations with increasing soil depth pointed at atmospheric inputs. Aluminum and Ni concentrations increased with soil depth. Those of Fe, Cr, and Zn did not change with depth indicating that inputs at most equalled leaching losses. The Pb accumulation in the surface layer (i.e. the ratio between the Pb concentrations at 0—10 to those at 20—40 cm depth) was most pronounced at N-exposed sites; Pb obviously reached Mount Križna mainly by long-range transport from N where several industrial agglomerations are located. Substantial Cd, Cu, and Mn accumulations at the S- and SE-exposed sites indicated local sources such as mining near to the study area which probably are also the reason for slight Cr and Zn accumulations in the SE-exposed soils. Based on a principal component analysis of the total concentrations in the topsoils four metal groups may be distinguished: 1. Cr, Ni, Zn; 2. Mn, Cd; 3. Pb (positive loading), Cu (negative loading); 4. Al, Fe, indicating common sources and distribution patterns. The results demonstrate that the spatial distribution of soil heavy metal concentrations can be used as indication of the location of pollution sources.     

Modern and paleolimnological evidence for accelerated leaching and metal accumulation in soils in New England,caused by atmospheric deposition

Empirical field evidence for changing chemical processes in soils caused by atmospheric deposition of pollutants consists of: (1) Long-term water quality data including total dissolved solids, concentrations of specific metals (e.g. Ca), and conductivity; (2) Cation exchange capacity and base saturation values for soils located on precipitation pH gradients; (3) Lysimeter studies; and (4) Chemical analysis of organic soils on precipitation pH and metal gradients. For well-drained organic soils, as precipitation pH decreases, metals are differentially leached at an accelerated rate (Mn>Ca>Mg≥Zn>Cd and Na>Al). Experimental field and laboratory lysimeter studies on soil columns yield similar results, with increases in leaching rates for soil solutions with pH=3 up to 100 × values for soil solutions with pH=5. Nearly 100% of the Pb from precipitation is accumulating in the organic soil layer or sediments. Zn is accumulating in soils and sediments where the pH's of precipitation, soil solutions, and surface waters are generally above 5 to 5.5. At lower pH values Zn and other chemically similar elements are desorbed/leached (net) at an accelerated rate. Chemical analyses of dated sediment cores from high and low altitude lakes, with drainage basins relatively undisturbed for the last 200+ yr, reveal that increased deposition of metals on a regional scale started in the northeastern United States as early as 1880, consistent with increased fossil fuel consumption. This suggests acidified precipitation as early as 1880. Cores from historically acidified lakes (pH<≈5.3 to 5.5) indicate that, as acidification of surface waters occurs (caused by acidic deposition), concentrations of Zn, Mn, and Ca decrease in the sediment. Apparently the metals are leached from the detritus prior to sedimentation. This conclusion results from data from experimental acidification of sediment cores and the general observation that precipitation pH is generally ≥0.5 pH units lower than lake water pH. Accelerated leaching of soil in New England dates to earlier than 1900.