Global Patterns of Metal and Other Element Enrichment in Bog and Fen Peatlands

Peatlands are found on all continents, covering 3% of the global land area. However, the spatial extent and causes of metal enrichment in peatlands is understudied and no attempt has been made to evaluate global patterns of metal enrichment in bog and fen peatlands, despite that certain metals and r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 2024-02, Vol.86 (2), p.125-139
Main Authors: Osborne, Chetwynd, Gilbert-Parkes, Spencer, Spiers, Graeme, Lamit, Louis James, Lilleskov, Erik A., Basiliko, Nathan, Watmough, Shaun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
anthropogenic activities
Anthropogenic factors
Biogeochemistry
Bogs
Cadmium
Contamination
Continents
Copper
Deposition
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Enrichment
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Fens
Human influences
Lead
Manganese
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
Metal concentrations
Metals
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Nutrients
Peat
Peatlands
Pollutant deposition
Pollutants
Pollution
Rare earth elements
soil
Soil contamination
Soil horizons
Soil Science & Conservation
Soil surfaces
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Summary:Peatlands are found on all continents, covering 3% of the global land area. However, the spatial extent and causes of metal enrichment in peatlands is understudied and no attempt has been made to evaluate global patterns of metal enrichment in bog and fen peatlands, despite that certain metals and rare earth elements (REE) arise from anthropogenic sources. We analyzed 368 peat cores sampled in 16 countries across five continents and measured metal and other element concentrations at three depths down to 70 cm as well as estimated cumulative atmospheric S deposition (1850–2009) for each site. Sites were assigned to one of three distinct broadly recognized peatland categories (bog, poor fen, and intermediate-to-moderately rich fen) that varied primarily along a pH gradient. Metal concentrations differed among peatland types, with intermediate-to-moderately rich fens demonstrating the highest concentrations of most metals. Median enrichment factors (EFs; a metric comparing natural and anthropogenic metal deposition) for individual metals were similar among bogs and fens (all groups), with metals likely to be influenced by anthropogenic sources (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Sb) demonstrating median enrichment factors (EFs) > 1.5. Additionally, mean EFs were substantially higher than median values, and the positive correlation (
ISSN:0090-4341
1432-0703
DOI:10.1007/s00244-024-01051-3