Distribution of cadmium among geochemical fractions in floodplain soils of progressing development

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 156; no. 1; pp. 207 - 214
• Main Authors: Lair, G.J., Graf, M., Zehetner, F., Gerzabek, M.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008
• Subjects: adsorption; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Cadmium - chemistry; calcareous soils; Chemical Phenomena; chemical reactions; Chemistry, Physical; copper; desorption; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Floodplain soils; floodplains; Fractionation; geochemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; immobilization in soil; Pedogenesis; Rivers; Sequential extraction; Soil - analysis; soil chemical properties; soil development; soil formation; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; soil pollution; temporal variation; Water Movements; Austria; Germany; Spain; Austria, Donau R; Germany, Elbe R; Europe; Pedogenesis; Cadmium; Sequential extraction; Fractionation; Floodplain soils
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.12.011

Initial soil development in river floodplains influences soil properties and processes. In this study, suites of young floodplain soils sampled at three European rivers (Danube/Austria, Ebro/Spain and Elbe/Germany) were used to link soil development to the soils’ retention capacity for cadmium. Geochemichal fractionation of original and metal-spiked soils was conducted. Cadmium remained in weakly bound fractions in both original and spiked soils, representing an entirely different behaviour than observed for copper in an earlier study. The tendency of incorporation into more stable forms over time was only slightly expressed. Correlation analysis revealed the involvement of different sorption surfaces in soil, with no single soil constituent determining cadmium retention behaviour. Nevertheless, in the calcareous soils of the Danube floodplain, we found increased cadmium retention and decreased portions of desorbable cadmium with progressing soil development. Distribution of cadmium among geochemical fractions in floodplain soils reveals high mobility but increased retention capacity with increasing soil age and development.