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Pollutants in air, soil, and living organisms

Eiliv Steinnes

Department of Chemistry

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

NO-7491 Trondheim

e-LUP ”kick-off” seminar, Helsinki, February 5, 2006

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Pollutants of concern to forest ecosystems:

• Aggressive gases (SO2, NOx, O3, fluoride, etc.)

• Acidifying substances (SO2/sulfate, NOx/nitrate, NH4+, etc.)

• Toxic metals (grouped according to volatility)A. HgB. Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Mo, V, - -C. Cu, Ni, Co, Ba, Cr, - -

• Persistent organic pollutantsA. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)B. Polychlorinated compounds: PCB, DDT/DDE, HCB, HCH (lindane), - -C. Polybrominated compounds: PBB, PBDE, - -

• Influence on local - regional - continental scale

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Distribution of Cu and Ni around the Nikel/Zapolyarny smelters, Kola(M. Äyräs et al., Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 98 (1997) 361)

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The Monchegorsk copper-nickel smelter, NW Russia

Among the largest sources of SO2 and heavy metal emissions on a world-wide scale:

• SO2: 98 000 tonnes/year

• Cu: 934 tonnes/year

• Ni: 1619 tonnes/year

• Co: 82 tonnes/year

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Effects of air pollutants from copper-nickel smelters on coniferous forest ecosystems:

• Direct effects of sulphur dioxide on the forest canopy

• Toxic effects by heavy metals on soil microflora and sensitive plant species

• Indirect effects of acidic deposition via soil acidification

• Indirect effects of heavy metals by cation exchange displacement of nutrients

7 Cu and Ni in forest soil at different distances from Monchegorsk (Data from EPORA project)

8 Data from EPORA project

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Influence of pollutants from the Monchegorsk smelter on base cations in understorey plants. Data from EPORA project.

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NILU bulk deposition sampler (Norwegian institute for air research)

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HylocomiumHylocomiumsplendenssplendens

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Moss annual segments

Moss Moss biomonitorbiomonitor

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Heavy metal deposition surveys in Norway based on moss analysis: sampling network

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Trace elements in precipitation 1989-1990: Station networkT. Berg et al., Atmos. Environ. 28(1994)3519-3536

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Calibration of concentration in moss against bulk deposition

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Most natural soils in Norway are podzols:

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Nationwide surveys in Norway of trace elements in natural surface soils(Nitric-acid soluble fractions)

1977: 500 sitesO-horizon, 2-5 cmCu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Pb, AAS/NAA

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Nationwide soil survey 1977: Sampling network

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Pb concentration in O-horizon samples from the 1977 survey (µg/g]

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Heavy metal concentrations in natural surface soil: 1977 sampling (g/g)

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1977 soil survey: Regional mean values

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Nationwide surveys in Norway of trace elements in natural surface soils(Nitric-acid soluble fractions)

1985: 400 sitesO-horizon, 2-5 cmB-horizon, ca. 20 cmC-horizon, ca. 60 cm29 elements, ICP-OES (NGU Report 94.029)

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Pb in natural soil in Norway 1985

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Comparison of mean values of selected metals in coniferous forest plant species in southern and central Norway

28PCB distribution in surface soil as a function of latitude

S. Meijer et al., Environ. Sci.&Technol. 36 (2002) 2146

29PCB congeners as a function of soil organic matter

S. Meijer et al., Environ. Sci. & Technol. 36 (2002) 2146

30PBDE (brominated flame retardants) congeners in surface soilA. Hassanin et al., Environ. Sci. & Technol. 38 (2004) 738

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Nationwide surveys in Norway of trace elements in natural surface soils(Nitric-acid soluble fractions)

1995: 460 sitesO-horizon, 0-3 cm32 elements, ICP-MS

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Concentrations of Mn, Sr, and Ba in 1995 surface soils (µg/g)

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Concentrations of As, Sb, and Pb in 1995 surface soils (µg/g)

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Soil 1995: Factor analysis, all samplesElement Communality F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8

Li 0.77 0.79Be 0.70 0.48 0.43B 0.71 0.73Ti 0.76 0.82V 0.72 0.75Cr 0.74 0.75Mn 0.84Co 0.82 0.64 0.45Ni 0.88 0.91Cu 0.91 0.92Zn 0.93 0.94Ge 0.95 0.77 0.51As 0.57 0.57Rb 0.75 0.66Sr 0.67 0.45 0.41Y 0.85 0.78 0.42Zr 0.90 0.54 0.71Mo 0.65 0.76Ag 0.70 -0.68Cd 0.81 0.41 0.79Sb 0.52 0.61Cs 0.76 0.81Ba 0.76 0.82La 0.98 0.98Ce 0.93 0.94Pr 0.99 0.98Nd 0.99 0.97Sm 0.95 0.93Hf 0.91 0.56 0.69Tl 0.64 0.56Pb 0.63 0.76Bi 0.81 0.84

Ash 0.67 0.72

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Factor analysis after excluding samples with >30% ash and samples near Zn smelter.

Element Communality F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6Li 0.71 0.73Be 0.58 0.64B 0.56 0.68Ti 0.75 0.81V 0.74 0.79Cr 0.62 0.69Mn 0.64 0.74Co 0.69 0.56Ni 0.91 0.95Cu 0.91 0.94Zn 0.64 0.58 0.54Ge 0.86 0.75 0.41As 0.26 0.43Rb 0.75 0.45 0.55 -0.47Sr 0.60 0.42 0.47Y 0.89 0.91Zr 0.73 0.71Mo 0.34 0.52Ag 0.49 -0.56Cd 0.55 0.72Sb 0.57 0.70Cs 0.49 0.47 0.46Ba 0.41 0.52La 0.96 0.98Ce 0.90 0.94Pr 0.98 0.98Nd 0.97 0.97Sm 0.93 0.94Hf 0.75 0.73Tl 0.44 0.61Pb 0.52 0.71Bi 0.74 0.84

Ash 0.49 0.67

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Classification of minor and trace elements in natural surface soils according to sources:

Mainly with natural mineral component:Li, Be, Ti, V, Cr, Ge, Zr, REE, HfReflecting local geocemistry but surface enriched through ”plant pumping”: Mn, Zn, Rb, Cs, BaMainly derived from atmospheric supply of marine salts:Sr, B, Cl, Br, IDepleted in coastal areas due to replacement with marine cations: Mn, Ga, Rb, Ag, BaSupplied by long-range transport of pollutants:Zn, Ge, As, Mo, Cd, Sb,Tl, Pb,BiMarkedly affected by local sources of air pollution:Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd