Water, Air, and Soil Pollution

, Volume 5, Issue 2, pp 213–220 | Cite as

Mercury in soils of British Columbia, a mercuriferous region

  • M. K. John
  • C. J. van Laerhoven
  • V. E. Osborne
  • I. Cotic
Article
Received:

Abstract

Mercury concentrations in various horizons of British Columbia soils were determined to estimate natural background levels in soils from various geographical areas of the province. Highly enriched concentrations near the Pinchi Lake cinnibar deposit declined to background levels ranging from 10 to 310 ppb Hg in the district. In six other regions, concentrations in surface mineral horizons averaged 85 ppb and ranged to 490 ppb but surface horizons of peaty muck soils and those predominated by vegetative litter contained 164 ppb Hg on the average and as much as 741 ppb. Concentrations in subsurface horizons were lower than at the surface. A significant relationship between Hg concentration and organic matter content was observed. Comparison with soils from outside British Columbia indicated its location within a generalized mercuriferous belt accounted for the relatively high concentrations observed.

Keywords

Organic Matter Mercury Matter Content Organic Matter Content Background Level 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Azzaria, L. M. and Webber, G. R.: 1969,Can. Mining Met. Bull., May issue, 521.Google Scholar
  2. Canada Soil Survey Committee: 1970,The System of Soil Classification for Canada, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario.Google Scholar
  3. Fimreite, N.: 1970,Environ. Pollut. 1, 119.Google Scholar
  4. Gracey, H. I. and Stewart, J. W. B.: 1974,Can. J. Soil Sci. 54, 105.Google Scholar
  5. Hatch, W. R. and Ott, W. L.: 1968,Anal. Chem. 40, 2085.Google Scholar
  6. Jackson, M. L.: 1958,Soil Chemical Analysis, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.Google Scholar
  7. John, M. K.: 1972a,Anal. Chem. 44, 429.Google Scholar
  8. John, M. K.: 1972b,Bull. Environ. Contamin. Toxic. 8, 77.Google Scholar
  9. Jonasson, I. R. and Boyle, R. W.: 1971, in J. E. Watkin, (ed.),Proc. Symp. Mercury in Man's Environment, p. 5, Roy. Soc. Can., Ottawa, Ontario.Google Scholar
  10. Jones, R. L. and Hinesly, T. D.: 1972,Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 36, 921.Google Scholar
  11. MacLean, A. J.: 1974,Can. J. Soil Sci. 54, 287.Google Scholar
  12. McKeague, J. A. and Kloosterman, B.: 1974,Can. J. Soil Sci. 54, 503.Google Scholar
  13. Saha, J. G.: 1972,Residue Rev. 42, 103.Google Scholar
  14. Sutherland Brown, A.: 1967, in E. M. Cameron, (ed.),Proc. Symp. Geochemical Prospecting, Geol. Sur. Can. Paper 66–54, p. 73, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario.Google Scholar
  15. Walkley, A. and Black, C. A.: 1934,Soil Sci. 37, 29.Google Scholar
  16. Warren, H. V., Delavault, R. E., and Barasko, J.: 1966,Econ. Geol. 61, 1010.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© D. Reidel Publishing Company 1975

Authors and Affiliations

  • M. K. John
    • 1
  • C. J. van Laerhoven
    • 1
  • V. E. Osborne
    • 1
  • I. Cotic
    • 1
  1. 1.Office of the Science AdvisorEnvironment CanadaOttawaCanada

Personalised recommendations