Impact of gold smelter emissions on vegetation and soils of a sub-Arctic forest-tundra transition ecosystem

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976 · Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5269121

Hocking, D; Kuchar, P; Plambeck, J A; Smith, R A

Surveys were conducted to determine the nature and extent of terrestrial contamination and effects on plant ecology resulting from air pollution in the Yellowknife area of Canada. The survey consisted of widespread sampling of vegetation and soils and a study of plant ecology in a forest stand and on a nearby rocky outcrop at numerous sites. Results indicate that the arsenic level in the soil and vegetation was attributed to gold smelters in an inverse square of the distance from the smelters in a monotonic pattern. In addition, it seems probable that the SO/sub 2/ has been primarily responsible for the depletion of lichens, since analysis of some living specimens indicated very high tolerance for arsenic.

• Research Organization: Canadian Wildlife Service, Edmonton, Alberta
• OSTI ID: 5269121
• Report Number(s): CONF-760654-
• Journal Information: Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 69; Conference: Annual meeting of air pollution control association, Portland, OR, USA, 27 Jun 1976
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
LICHENS
TOLERANCE
SMELTERS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
CANADA
SOILS
SURVEYS
ALGAE
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
FUNGI
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SEMIMETALS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)