Spatial and temporal patterns of lead accumulation in the forest floor in the Northeastern United States

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5306063

Johnson, A H; Siccama, T G; Friedland, A J

In light of the relatively large amounts of anthropogenic Pb deposition from the atmosphere, a regional study of forest floor Pb was undertaken. The current Pb content averages 1.1 +- 0.1 g m/sup -2/ and 148 +- 5 ..mu..g g/sup -1/ of forest floor. Factors that control forest floor Pb levels include precipitation rate, distance from the urban corridor, elevation, proximity to Pb-emitting industries, forest floor age, and nature of the underlying mineral horizon. Analysis of buried organic horizons from windthrow mounds indicates that the Pb content of the forest floor may have increased five- to 10-fold in the past century. 32 references, 4 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• OSTI ID: 5306063
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 11:4; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CORRELATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
GEOCHEMISTRY
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
LEAD
MATERIALS
METALS
POLLUTION SOURCES
QUANTITY RATIO
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SOILS