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Heavy metal pollution by long range atmospheric transport in natural soils of Southern Norway

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Abstract

Natural surface soils in Southern Norway are strongly contaminated by metals from atmospheric deposition. Except from local pollution with Cu, Ni and to a limited extent Pb around the town of Kristiansand, this large-scale contamination can be ascribed to long-range atmospheric transport from other parts of Europe. Zinc, As, Cu, and Pb are all found in excessive concentrations in the surface layer of natural soils throughout the region, and in particular within a zone of about 20 to 40 km from the coast. In this zone the elements appear at the following concentrations or higher in the A0 layer (typical levels in other parts of Norway little affected by air pollution in parantheses): Zn, 120(30) mg kg−1; As, 4(0.5) mg kg−1; Cd, 2(0.2) mg kg−1; Pb, 160(15) mg kg−1. Possible harmful effects to soil biological processes of this contamination cannot be excluded.

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Author notes

  1. Wenche Solberg

    Present address: Arbeidstilsynet, 8500, Narvik, Norway

  2. Heidi M. Petersen

    Present address: Kværner Engineering, 3201, Sandefjord, Norway

  3. Christopher D. Wren

    Present address: B.A.R. Environmental, Brock Road, R.R.J., NIH 6H9, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Trondheim, AVH, 7055, Dragvoll, Norway

    Wenche Solberg, Heidi M. Petersen & Christopher D. Wren

  2. Arbeidstilsynet, 8500, Narvik, Norway

    Eiliv Steinnes

Authors
  1. Eiliv Steinnes
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  2. Wenche Solberg
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  3. Heidi M. Petersen
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  4. Christopher D. Wren
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Steinnes, E., Solberg, W., Petersen, H.M. et al. Heavy metal pollution by long range atmospheric transport in natural soils of Southern Norway. Water Air Soil Pollut 45, 207–218 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283452

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283452

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