Effect of smelter emissions on soil organic matter

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974 · Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5486631

Whitby, L M

Investigations into the effects of smelter emissions from the Sudbury, Ontario, mining area have revealed dramatic contamination of soils by both metals and sulfur dioxide. Concentrations of nickel and copper exceed 5000 ppm and 2000 ppm respectively within one mile of the smelter. Soil organic matter 31 miles from the smelter is typical of podzolic fulvic acid in both composition and structure. In contrast, soil organic matter from a site at one mile is extremely atypical. The total sulfur content is ten times that of the soil from 31 miles, but the sulfur content of the organic matter is 60 times higher than normal. It appears that in the organic matter from one mile, many of the carbon groups of fulvic acid have been replaced by sulfonic groups. In this way, the organic matter acts as an ion exchange resin with very strong metal chelating properties. This modified organic matter is extremely soluble and mobile in the environment.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5486631
• Journal Information: Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States) Vol. 55:2; ISSN BECLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
CANADA
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FULVIC ACIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
INFORMATION
ION EXCHANGE
METALS
NICKEL
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ONTARIO
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REMOVAL
SMELTERS
SOILS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR CONTENT
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES