Terrain-modulated deposition of atmospheric lead in the soils of alpine forest, central China

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2021-10, Vol.790, p.148106-148106, Article 148106
• Main Authors: Zhong, Zhilin, Bing, Haijian, Xiang, Zhongxiang, Wu, Yanhong, Zhou, Jun, Ding, Shiming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric deposition; Biomonitoring; Mountain soils; Pb isotopes; Source identification
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148106

Alpine ecosystem has a potential to intercept the transport of atmospheric metals, while the regulation mechanisms with variations in altitude and slope direction remain unclear. In this study, the soil and moss samples on the northern and southern slopes of Shennongjia Mountain were collected with altitude to quantitatively identify the sources of lead (Pb) and to decipher the regulation mechanisms of altitude and slope on the Pb distribution. The results showed that the concentrations of Pb decreased evidently with soil depth, and in the O (organic soils) and A (surface mineral soils) horizons they increased with altitude. The Pb isotopes and moss biomonitoring revealed that Pb was mainly from atmospheric deposition, and the sources included fossil fuel combustion, ore mining and smelting. Based on a binary mixing model of Pb isotopes, the percentage of atmospheric Pb in the O and A horizons and mosses averaged 58.8%, 43.7% and 71.0%, respectively. Atmospheric wet deposition strikingly controlled the distribution of soil Pb along the altitude. Canopy filtering and leaching also impacted the accumulation of Pb in the forest floor. The significant difference in the atmospheric Pb accumulation in the soils between the two slopes was not observed as expected, since atmospheric dry deposition from northwestern China contributed to the Pb accumulation on the northern slope according to the Pb isotopic ratios and air mass trajectories. The results of this study indicate that altitude determines the distribution pattern of atmospheric Pb, while slope direction screens the source region of Pb in alpine ecosystems. [Display omitted] •Anthropogenic Pb was quantified along altitudinal gradients of two slopes on a remote mountain.•>50% Pb in forest floor was from atmospheric sources.•Anthropogenic Pb from atmospheric deposition was major sourced from fossil fuel combustion, ore mining and smelting.•Atmospheric wet deposition determined altitudinal distribution of atmospheric Pb.•Slope direction screened specific Pb sources from different regions.