Distribution and partitioning of trace metals in contaminated soils near Leadville, Colorado

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1992.00472425002100020006x· OSTI ID:6994730

Levy, D B ^[1]; Barbarick, K A; Siemer, E G; Sommers, L E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of California, Riverside (United States)
2. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (United States)

Mountain meadows near Leadville, CO, were contaminated with trace metals through the deposition of hydraulically transported mine tailings in the early 1900s. A study was conducted to: (I) characterize the physical and chemical properties of contaminated soils, (II) determine the soil depth distribution of total, organically bound, oxide-bound, exchangeable, and water-soluble metals, and (III) evaluate trace metals in forages grown in contaminated meadows. One uncontaminated and four contaminated locations in a north-south transect were studied. Total soil metals ranged from: Cu, 14 to 1200 mg kg[sup [minus]1]; Cd, 3 to 110 mg kg[sup [minus]1]; Pb, 46 to 49000 mg kg[sup [minus]1]; and Zn, 44 to 12000 mg kg[sup [minus]1]. The greatest concentrations of total metals were found either in the surface horizons or in hydraulically deposited sand layers that were buried at three locations. Copper was predominantly associated with the organic fraction at four of the five locations, while Cd, Pb, and Zn were mainly bound to Fe and Mn oxides at all locations. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in forages were significantly related to various fractions of soil metals and were found to be potentially detrimental to livestock health and plant growth.

• OSTI ID: 6994730
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States) Vol. 21:2; ISSN JEVQAA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL FEEDS
ANIMALS
CADMIUM
CATTLE
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COLORADO
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FOOD
FOOD CHAINS
FORAGE
LAND POLLUTION
LEAD
MAMMALS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RUMINANTS
SOILS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
ZINC