Heavy metal distribution in some French forest soils: evidence for atmospheric contamination

Abstract

This study is one of very few dealing with the distribution and the origin of heavy metals in French soils from a priori non-polluted forest areas. The abundance of heavy metals measured in these soils decreases as follows: Cr) Zn)Pb)Ni)Cu)Co4Cd. Total concentrations of Pb, Cr and Ni in some soils exceed the European thresholds for non-polluted soils and even the French association of normalization critical values for sludge spreading. The lowest heavy metal contents are observed in acid soils while the highest concentrations are in the calcaric cambisol and in the mollic andosol, which is rather scarce as compared with the other French forest soils. With the exception of the podzol, Cr and Ni concentrations increase with depth in all soil profiles. The distribution pattern of Co, Cu, Zn depends on the soil characteristics. In some acid soils, however, Cu and Zn decrease with depth. Pb and Cd are accumulated in the upper soil horizons. Heavy metals accumulate in deep soil horizons in relation to important clay content in the dystric planosol and stagnic luvisol. The concentration of each heavy metal is always controlled by different parameters (soil pH, iron and aluminum oxide content, clay content, organic matter and cation exchange capacity), which are heavy metal specific. This study highlights the metal-trapping character of andosol and calcaric soil, the weak heavy metal retention in acid soils, the leaching and trapping character in leached clayed soils, and the migration of heavy metals in the podzol. Pb and Cr concentrations indicate a significant enrichment in surface horizons from various soils in areas which receive significant acid atmospheric pollution. Particularly, the highest Pb content is observed in a soil located in the N-NE part of France. Lead isotope ratios measured in the cambic podzol and the calcaric cambisol, exhibit the importance of the anthropogenic sources and particularly the influence of global atmospheric inputs from leaded gasoline compared to regional and local industrial emissions. The anthropogenic Pb contribution is estimated to 83, 30 and 11%, respectively, for surface, intermediate and deep horizons of the cambic podzol located in the northern part of France, and to 68% in surface horizon of the calcaric cambisol located in the Alps.

Rare Earth Elements and Geochemical Partitioning of Zn and Pb in Sediments of an Urban River

“…In future, this loading of heavy metals in the sediments might increase so as to contaminate the standing stock of different kinds of fisheries. Finally, for high EFc values (>2), it is presumed that enrichment corresponding mainly to the anthropogenic input (Hernandez et al, 2003), which is concomitant with present findings, as Haneda airport which is located very close to the mouth of the Nomi River, industrialization and heavy traffic are the major contributor for the worst condition of this river.…”

Ecological changes in historically polluted soils: Metal(loid) bioaccumulation in microarthropods and their impact on community structure

“…An EF value exceeding 1 theoretically indicates anthropogenic input. In order to account for uncertainties in the comparison process, a value greater than 2 was considered here to indicate significant soil contamination (Hernandez et al, 2003).…”

Cost–benefit calculation of phytoremediation technology for heavy-metal-contaminated soil

“…Soil heavy-metal (HM) pollution is one of the main global environmental problems, particularly in China (Hernandez et al, 2003;Li et al, 2015;Toribio and Romanya, 2006). Soil HM pollution adversely affects not only the yield and quality of crops, and animal and human health, but also the environment (Chen et al, 1999).…”