Soil solution data from Bohemian headwater catchments record atmospheric metal deposition and legacy pollution

0571381 - BC 2024 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Petrash, Daniel A. - Krám, P. - Pérez-Rivera, K.X. - Bůzek, F. - Čuřík, J. - Veselovský, F. - Novák, M.
Soil solution data from Bohemian headwater catchments record atmospheric metal deposition and legacy pollution.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Roč. 30, č. 16 (2023), s. 48232-48247. ISSN 0944-1344. E-ISSN 1614-7499
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : metal pollution * shallow response times and recovery * vadose zone * stable oxygen isotope * groundwater vs. runoff contribution model * Lysimeters
OECD category: Soil science
Impact factor: 5.8, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11356-023-25673-7.pdf

Soil solution chemistry depends largely on mineralogy and organic matter properties of soil horizons with which they interact. Differing lithologies within a given catchment area can influence variability in soil cation exchange capacities and affect solute transport. Zero-tension and tension lysimeters were used to evaluate the fast transport of solutes in the topsoil vs. slow diffusional matrix flow at the subsoil of three contrasting lithology catchments in a mid-elevation mountain forest. Our aim was to test the feasibility of lysimeters' hydrochemical data as a gauge for legacy subsoil pollution. Due to contrasting lithologies, atmospheric legacy pollution prevailing at the soil-regolith interface is differently yet consistently reflected by beryllium, lead, and chromium soil solution concentrations of the three catchments. Geochemical (dis)equilibrium between the soil and soil matrix water governed the hydrochemistry of the soil solutions at the time of collection, potentially contributing to decreased dissolved concentrations with increased depths at sites with higher soil pH. A complementary isotopic δ18O runoff generation model constrained potential seasonal responses and pointed to sufficiently long water-regolith interactions as to permit important seasonal contributions of groundwater enriched in chemical species to the topsoil levels. Our study also reflects subsoil equilibration with atmospheric solutes deposited at the topsoil and thus provides guidance for evaluating legacy pollution in soil profiles derived from contrasting lithology.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0344275