Migration of nickel and copper in forest litters under the effect of simulated rainfall

The leaching of Ni and Cu from undisturbed forest litter layers under the impact of simulated natural and contaminated rainfalls was studied under laboratory conditions. Samples were collected in the vicinity of a copper-nickel smelter on the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia. Both Ni and Cu were significantly accumulated in the natural (uncontaminated) forest litter; the contaminated litter also uptook Cu and, to a lesser extent, Ni. The metals migrated through the forest litter as organometal complexes, mainly with acid-soluble components. In the contaminated forest litter, the migration of Ni was also affected by pH.