HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Turner, R. S. Articles by Wang, D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Turner, R. S. Articles by Wang, D. Agricola Articles by Turner, R. S. Articles by Wang, D.

Biogeochemistry of Lead in McDonalds Branch Watershed, New Jersey Pine Barrens¹

ABSTRACT

Lead concentrations, fluxes, and storage were measured in the vegetation, forest floor, and acid, sandy mineral soil (Quartzipsamments) of a forested watershed in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Atmospherically deposited Pb at the McDonalds Branch Watershed was 140 g ha^–1 yr^–1 (8 µg L^–1 in bulk precipitation) in 1980 to 1982, a substantial reduction from 350 g ha^–1 yr^–1 (17 µg L^–1 in bulk precipitation) in 1978 to 1979. Virtually all Pb falling on the uplands was retained—75% by the organic forest floor and 25% by mineral soils, especially in B and C soil horizons. Total Pb content of the forest floor was 7.6 kg ha^–1, with an accumulation rate of 100 g ha^–1 yr^–1 (1980–1982), or 1.3% of the forest floor pool. Estimated mean residence time of Pb in the forest floor was 220 yr. About 35 g Pb ha^–1 yr^–1 moved out of the forest floor in solution through the E horizon and was correlated strongly with dissolved organic matter. Approximately 30 g Pb ha^–1 yr^–1 accumulated in the B and C soil horizons. Less than 1 g Pb ha^–1 yr^–1 percolated past a depth of 2 m. Lowland muck soils and vegetation accumulated 98% of incoming Pb, with only 3.2 g Pb ha^–1 yr^–1 exported in the stream. Lead concentrations in the stream were correlated positively with dissolved organic matter and water level in the swamps. Lead in biota was contained mainly in the bark, fine roots, and foliage. Concentrations were: fine roots (18 mg kg^–1) > bark (15 mg kg^–1) > foliage (4 mg kg^–1) > wood (0.5 mg kg^–1). Although Pb concentrations in herbs, mosses, and lichens ranged from 10 to 60 mg kg^–1, these plants accounted for very little biomass. Total Pb content of biota was 335 g ha^–1, about 4% of the forest floor Pb content.

Key Words: atmospheric deposition • air pollution • soil pollution • trace metals • leaching

¹ Contribution from the Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, operated by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., under contract DE-ACO5-840R21400 with the U.S. Dep. of Energy, Environmental Sciences Division Publication no. 2490; Dep. of Geology, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, and School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale Univ., New Haven, CT 06511. This research was funded in part by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, and the EPA/NCSU Acid Precipitation Program (a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and North Carolina State Univ.). It has not been subjected to EPA's required peer and policy review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.

² Research associate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, associate professor, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and associate in research, Yale Univ., New Haven, CT 06511, respectively.

Received for publication May 16, 1983.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J.-H. Huang, K. Kalbitz, and E. Matzner Mobility of Trimethyllead and Total Lead in the Forest Floor Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 29, 2008; 72(4): 978 - 984. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Yanai, D. G. Ray, and T. G. Siccama Lead Reduction and Redistribution in the Forest Floor in New Hampshire Northern Hardwoods J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2004; 33(1): 141 - 148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]