Spatial patterns of organic chlorine and chloride in Swedish forest soil

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 391 - 397
• Main Authors: Johansson, Emma, Sandén, Per, Öberg, Gunilla
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon - analysis; Chloride; Chlorides - analysis; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Geography; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS; Models, Statistical; Organic chlorine; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Rain; Soil; Soil - analysis; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Spatial distribution; Sweden; Trees; TVÄRVETENSKAPLIGA FORSKNINGSOMRÅDEN; Wind; Sweden; Europe; Soil; Organic chlorine; Chloride; Spatial distribution; Organic carbon; Chlorine; Forest soil; Soil pollution; Spatial variation; Correlation analysis; Medium effect; Organochlorine compounds; Chlorine Organic compounds; Halogen; Longitudinal distribution; Concentration distribution; Halogen Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00193-0

The concentration of organic carbon, organic chlorine and chloride was determined in Swedish forest soil in the southern part of Sweden and the spatial distribution of the variables were studied. The concentration of organically bound chlorine was positively correlated to the organic carbon content, which is in line with previous studies. However, the spatial distribution patterns strongly indicate that some other variable adds structure to the spatial distribution of organic chlorine. The distribution patterns for chloride strongly resembled the distribution of organic chlorine. The spatial distribution of chloride in soil depends on the deposition pattern which in turn depends on prevailing wind-direction, amount of precipitation and the distance from the sea. This suggests that the occurrence of organic chlorine in soil is influenced by the deposition of chloride or some variable that co-varies with chloride. Two clearly confined strata were found in the area: the concentrations of organic chlorine and chloride in the western area were significantly higher than in the eastern area. No such difference among the two areas was seen regarding the carbon content.