Major and trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd Co, Cr Cs, Cu Eu Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Si, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, U, V, Yb and Zn) in forest soils from three acid-deposition-affected locations in southern Quebec were investigated. Total element concentrations in the surface layer (0–20 cm) of the Podzolic soils were mostly well within the range of element concentrations in Podzols reported worldwide but showed higher mean values for most elements. The mean concentrations of elements (except Zn, at 124 μg g−1) were also generally comparable to the respective elemental baseline data established for Canadian soils. Element concentrations (μg g−1) of Cs (6.2) Sc (19 8) V (106) Rb (194) K (26 500) and Al (76 900) in the surface soils were significantly higher at the 940-m elevation than the concentrations from the sites at 650 and 770 m along the Roundtop Mountain slope, but Ca (1120) and Ni (4.4) were lowest at the 940-m elevation A similar trend with elevation was not observed at the other mountain location (White Peak). Enrichment-factor (EF) analysis showed significant element enrichment (EF ≥ 10) for Cd, Rb and Sb but impoverishment (EF ≤ 0.1) for Ca, Cu and Ni in topsoils. Key words: Major and trace elements, surface soils, acid deposition
Estimating the sensitivity of forest soils to acid deposition in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta
