title: Metals and arsenic in soils and corresponding vegetation at Central Elbe river floodplains (Germany).
abstract: Floodplain soils at the Elbe river are frequently polluted with metals and arsenic. High contents of these pollutants were detected down to subsoil layers. NH4NO3-extractable (phytoavailable) Cd, Ni, and Zn were elevated in horizons with high acidity. Among five common floodplain plant species, Artemisia vulgaris showed highest concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Hg, Alopecurus pratensis of As and Phalaris arundinacea of Ni, Pb, and Zn. Relationships were weak between metal concentrations in plants and phytoavailable stocks in soil. As and Hg uptake seems to be enhanced on long submerged soils. Enrichments of Cd and Hg are linked to a special plant community composition. Grassland herbage sampled in July/August revealed higher concentrations of As (+122%), Hg (+124%), and Pb (+3723%) than in May. To limit harmful transfers into the food chain, low-lying terraces and flood channels revealing highest contaminations or phytoavailabilities should be excluded from mowing and grazing.
authors.affiliation: Department for Geo- and Agroecology, Institute of Spatial Analysis and Planning in Areas of Intensive Agriculture, University of Vechta, P.O. Box 1553, D-49364 Vechta, Germany. moveresch@ispa.uni-vechta.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Overesch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rinklebe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Broll
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Neue
mesh_terms: D031702:Agropyron / Q000737:chemistry; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005858:Germany; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D031783:Phalaris / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D045483:Rivers; D012621:Seasons; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D027003:Urticaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D053833:Wetlands; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc; D001151:Arsenic