Evidence of Complete Retention of Atmospheric Lead in the Soils of Northern Hardwood Forested Ecosystems

Atmospheric lead deposited in forested ecosystems has been found to be preferentially accumulated in the surface soil layer. At the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, Pb levels in soil, streams, and seeps were determined to assess soil retention. The Pb concentration gradient was de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 1995-03, Vol.29 (3), p.735-739
Main Authors: Wang, Edward X, Bormann, F. Herbert, Benoit, Gaboury
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AGUA SUPERFICIAL
AIR POLLUTION
Applied sciences
BOSQUES
CARACTERISTICAS MORFOLOGICAS SUELO
CONTAMINANTES
DECIDUOUS PLANTS
DEPOSITION
EAU SUPERFICIELLE
Exact sciences and technology
FOREST SOILS
FORESTS
FORET
Global environmental pollution
HORIZONS
LEAD
NEW HAMPSHIRE
PLANTAS DECIDUAS
PLANTE A FEUILLES CADUQUES
PLOMB
PLOMO
POLLUANT
POLLUTANTS
Pollution
POLLUTION ATMOSPHERIQUE
POLLUTION DE L'EAU
POLLUTION DU SOL
POLUCION DEL AGUA
POLUCION DEL AIRE
POLUCION DEL SUELO
SOIL MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES
SOIL POLLUTION
SOL DE FORET
SUELO FORESTAL
SURFACE WATER
TRAIT MORPHOLOGIQUE DU SOL
WATER POLLUTION
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Summary:Atmospheric lead deposited in forested ecosystems has been found to be preferentially accumulated in the surface soil layer. At the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, Pb levels in soil, streams, and seeps were determined to assess soil retention. The Pb concentration gradient was determined in bulk precipitation and in the soil O sub(a), B sub(h), and B sub(s) horizons to the seeps and streams. The dissolved Pb was decreased by a factor of 1000 in passing from the O sub(a) horizons to streams. Lead speciation studies on soil solutions indicated that Pb was mobilized from the O sub(a) horizon primarily through association with mobilized colloids and partitioning of divalent Pb between aqueous and solid phases. Overall results indicated that dissolved Pb in streams and seeps was very low, even though a significant amount of Pb was found to be leached out of the forest-floor layer. The data suggested that the mineral soil horizons act as the net sink for atmospheric Pb as it passes through forested ecosystems.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es00003a022