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MULTI-MEDIA CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS AND MAJOR IONS FROM URBAN AND RURAL SITES IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

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Abstract

Concentrations of heavy metals and major ions were measured in precipitation, snowpack, garden soils and vegetables from urban and rural sites in New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada. Atmospheric loading of mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, strontium, and vanadium need further assessment. Vanadium concentrations in precipitation, snowpack, soils and vegetables showed an urban influence. Vanadium concentrations in the snowpack ranged between <2.0 ppb at 50 kilometers from the city center to 31.4 ppb in the city. Concentrations of all heavy metals in urban soils were less than CCME remediation guidelines but selected metals exceeded the assessment benchmark non-regulatory guidelines. Major ions were consistently higher in event precipitation than the snowpack. The order of ion elution from the snowpack was NO3 > SO4 > NH4 > H > Mg > Cl > Na > K. Hydrogen ion equivalents were highest in the snowpack and precipitation from urban samples. Mean hydrogen ion concentrations ranged from 11 to 22 μeq L-1 in the snowpack compared with 18 to 41 μeq L-1 in event precipitation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, Air Quality, New Brunswick Department of the Environment, PO Box 6000, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5H1, Canada

    Wilfred Pilgrim

  2. Atmospheric Environment Service, Environment Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Downsview, Ontario, M3H 5T4, Canada

    Bill Schroeder

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  1. Wilfred Pilgrim
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  2. Bill Schroeder
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Pilgrim, W., Schroeder, B. MULTI-MEDIA CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS AND MAJOR IONS FROM URBAN AND RURAL SITES IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA. Environ Monit Assess 47, 89–108 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005799629588

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