Limited downward migration of pollutant metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb) in acidic virgin peat soils near a smelter

The distribution of pollutant heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb) was determined in 11 acidic virgin peat profiles located along two transects moving away from a smelter plant in the Noranda region of Quebec. The levels of all five metals were found highest in the 0 to 15 cm layer at site near the smelter, and decreased progressively with the distance from the smelter, up to 42 km. Copper had the highest concentrations (5525 μg g− 1) followed by Pb and Zn. The maximum levels of total metals built up in the peat surface near the ..