Export of Arsenic from Forested Catchments Under Easing Atmospheric Pollution

Abstract

Massive lignite burning in Central European power plants peaked in the 1980s. Dissolved arsenic in runoff from upland forest ecosystems is one of the ecotoxicological risks resulting from power plant emissions. Maxima in As concentrations in runoff from four forest catchments have increased 2-5 times between 1995 and 2006, and approach the drinking water limit (10 microg L(-1)). To assess the fate of anthropogenic As, we constructed input/output mass balances for three polluted and one relatively unpolluted forest catchment in the Czech Republic, and evaluated the pool size of soil As. The observation period was 11 years, and the sites spanned a 6-fold As pollution gradient. Two of the polluted sites exhibit large net As export via runoff solutes (mean of 4-5 g As ha(-1) yr(-1) for the 11-year period; up to 28 g As ha(-1) yr(-1) in 2005). This contrasts with previous studies which concluded that forest catchments are a net sink for atmogenic arsenic both at times of increasing and decreasing pollution. The amount of exported As is not correlated with the total As soil pool size, which is over 78% geogenic in origin, but correlates closely with water fluxes via runoff. Net arsenic release is caused by an interplay of hydrological conditions and retreating acidification which may mobilize arsenic by competitive ligand exchange. The effects of droughts and other aspects of climate change on subsequent As release from soil were not investigated. Between-site comparisons indicate that most pollutant As may be released from humus.

Effects of spirulina in arsenic poisoning in the Black Bengal goat

“…Arsenic is ubiquitous in the environment and is released from natural and man-made sources (1). At present, drinking water contamination by arsenic has been reported from at least 70 countries (2).…”

Radial distribution of lead and lead isotopes in stem wood of Norway spruce: A reliable archive of pollution trends in Central Europe

“…Spruce trees were selected inside small upland catchments whose hydrochemical fluxes have been monitored monthly since 1994 (Oulehle et al, 2008). Industrial emission rates peaked in 1987 (Erbanova et al, 2008). Acidification of the forest ecosystems was dominated by atmospheric sulfur input which was then 10 times higher in the north than in the south of the Czech Republic (Novak et al, 2005).…”

To what extent can atmospheric deposition influence the natural background of metals in ground waters? A case study in the Czech Republic

“…However, as demonstrated in some studies (e.g., Erbanova et al 2008;) the concentrations of some metals in ground and surface waters may be influenced by specific anthropogenic activities. These in particular include acid atmospheric deposition that directly brings metals into the environment through bulk and throughfall deposition.…”