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Limited downward migration of pollutant metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb) in acidic virgin peat soils near a smelter

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Abstract

The distribution of pollutant heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb) was determined in 11 acidic virgin peat profiles located along two transects moving away from a smelter plant in the Noranda region of Quebec. The levels of all five metals were found highest in the 0 to 15 cm layer at site near the smelter, and decreased progressively with the distance from the smelter, up to 42 km. Copper had the highest concentrations (5525 μg g−1) followed by Pb and Zn. The maximum levels of total metals built up in the peat surface near the smelter were high, approximately reaching the threshold limits for phytotoxicity in peat soils. The amounts of heavy metals moving down and accumulating in the anaerobic zone of the peat profiles were limited. The distribution and enrichment ratios in the profiles showed that Cu, Zn, and Cd would have relatively higher mobility than Pb.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istitudo di Chimica Agraria e Forestale, Universita Degli Studi di Basilicata, Via N. Sauro, 85-85100, Potenza, Italia

    S. Dumontet

  2. Land Resource Research Centre, Research Branch Agriculture Canada, KIA OC6, Ottawa, Canada

    M. Lévesque & S. P. Mathur

Authors
  1. S. Dumontet
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  2. M. Lévesque
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  3. S. P. Mathur
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LRRC Contribution number 89-45.

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Dumontet, S., Lévesque, M. & Mathur, S.P. Limited downward migration of pollutant metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb) in acidic virgin peat soils near a smelter. Water Air Soil Pollut 49, 329–342 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00507072

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00507072

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