Features of vertical migration of heavy metals in soils of various types of forest biogeocenosis during aerotechnogenic contamination with lead-containing dust

We obtained data on radial migration of pollutant elements in soils of spruce, birch and black alder forests that had been subjected to air-dust contamination with lead-containing wastes. This waste was stored in a waste dump during 2015–2018 and then the waste was moved to a special landfill. We sampled each layer of soil and forest litter at intervals of 2 cm. The study area has strongly and moderately acidic, non-saturated, medium and low-humus, well-drained forest soils. We used the element concentration (or anomaly) coefficient and the radial contrast coefficient to assess the TM migration activity.

The highest levels of contamination are characteristic of forest litter. The intensity of element accumulation in litter is determined by two factors: the size of the litter itself and the distance of the sample site from the emission source. Well developed spruce litter is a biogeochemical barrier, which significantly reduces the risk of pollution of the humus horizon of soils with cadmium and lead, as well as the flow of metals into deeper soil layers and groundwater. At the same time, the migration mobility of iron, nickel and, to some extent, copper remains. The poorly size litter of birch and black-alder forests has less pronounced protective properties.

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