Sustainable soil resource management requires detailed knowledge of soil pollution sources and their share in total pollution level. Spatial pollution caused by the total cumulative atmospheric deposition remains largely unknown, as the biggest pollutant emissions occurred in XIX/XX centuries. The use of ombrotrophic peatlands that are specific isolated ecosystems fed only through atmospheric deposition may serve as its natural archives. Accumulation of Cd and Pb from atmospheric deposition in undisturbed soil layers in relation to their total deposited cumulative loads recorded in the ombrotrophic peat bog was exemplified in the Izera Mountains, an area historically heavily affected with the transboundary long-range transmission of pollutants from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Balance of deposited Cd and Pb loads in soil in relation to the total cumulative deposition determined from peat records showed 30% depletion of Cd load in the soil profile due to washout of mobile phases, while that of Pb practically did not decline. The deposited element accumulation and release/depletion in undisturbed soil profiles can thus be quantified in relation to the total cumulative load of atmospheric deposition. This shows a new prospective application of peat bog records as monitors of total cumulative loads of trace elements supplied to soils from atmospheric deposition.

This chapter attempts to summarize information on background levels of metals in soils and waters, anthropogenic sources of metals to soil and water systems, important soil processes which dictate the mobility and bioavailability of metals, and contamination of different water systems with heavy metals. Anthropogenic metal inputs are a major source of metal contamination of soils and waters. In spite of the vital importance of fertilizers and amendments for increased crop production, when used in large amounts they can cause contamination of soils and waters because they contain some undesired impurities such as heavy metals. Metal-containing sewage sludge when applied to agricultural soils can cause contamination of soils, crops, and waters because soil works as a dynamic entity through which metals pass during recycling from the waste to plants, water or air. Impact of mining and smelting activities on metal contamination of soils is extensively documented.

Chemical characterization and source and bioaccessibility investigations were performed on airborne ultrafine particles (UFPs) collected from a trafficked road (Elgeseter) and a city background site (Torget) within the city of Trondheim, Norway from January 2014 to May 2015. Particles were collected using cascade impactors, and HNO3 soluble element concentrations were determined using high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). Element bioaccessibility was assessed by extraction in simulated lung fluids, and possible sources were investigated using enrichment factor (EF) and principal component analysis (PCA).

A novel approach to using peatlands for assessment of cumulative contributions from long-range transport of pollutants (LRTP) - airborne trace elements - to spatial pollution was exemplified in evaluating retrospective atmospheric deposition of priority pollutants (Pb, Cd, Hg) in peat bogs in Norway in areas minor affected by local sources of pollution and in NW Poland located on the way of possible LRTP from Poland to Norway. Peat from the corresponding 14C-dated layers of five ombrotrophic bogs in each country, was analysed for trace element contents. Pollutant concentrations/load distribution along the peat profiles related to bulk density has given a clear evidence of uneven density-dependent temporal vertical migration of all studied elements that distorts the chronology of their deposition. Much higher loads of Pb, Cd and Hg in southern Norwegian bogs than in bogs located in NW Poland proved transboundary transport from neighbouring highly industrialized European countries to be much more significant contributor to high deposition of the priority pollutants in this area and rather excludes LRTP from Poland as a major source of total land pollution in southernmost Norway. The study showed excellent applicability of peat bogs for the exact assessment of retrospective cumulative pollutant loads from LRTP, but not for the identification of deposition chronology. Combining the use of ombrotrophic peat bogs as tools for retrospective monitoring of cumulative land pollution with airborne elements with current LRTP data within the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) may provide a complete reliable picture of the effect of anthropogenic emissions on soil quality and create a foundation of optimum environmental policy and activities in this field.

Airborne particulate matter (PM) size fractions PM2.5–10 (coarse), PM0.1–2.5 (fine) and PM0.1 (ultrafine) were collected from a site affected by high traffic and a city background site within the city of Trondheim, Norway during spring and winter periods. Concentrations of a range of elements in the different size fractions were determined using high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS), and bioaccessibility of the elements was assessed by extraction in Gamble's solution (GMB) and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF).

Despite being a remote location, the Arctic is a major receptor for anthropogenic pollution transported from the mid-latitudes. Vegetation and underlying organic soils in the Norwegian Arctic, Svalbard were used to study the occurrences of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and trace elements. In this study, current concentrations of PCBs and trace elements, namely, Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, U and Zn in the terrestrial compartments of Svalbard are presented. Samples were collected from Adventdalen near Longyearbyen and from areas in proximity to Ny-Alesund. There was significant variability in soil organic matter (SOM) among the soils analysed (5.0%-72.1%), with the highest values detected in Ny-Alesund. The concentrations of Al, As, Cr Cu, Fe, Pb and Ni were associated with the geology of the local bedrock. The concentrations of all elements, except for Cd, Hg and Zn, were higher in soils than those in the overlying vegetation layers. Mean concentrations of Sigma PCBs were significantly higher in vegetation (6.90 +/- 0.81 ng g(-1) dw) than the underlying organic soils (3.70 +/- 0.36 ng g(-1)dw). An inverse correlation of PCBs with the elements originating from the local bedrock indicated that their concentrations were potentially impacted by atmospheric deposition. PCBs and Cd were strongly associated, proposing a potential concomitant source of origin in Svalbard. Concentrations of PCBs and trace elements measured herein were below the proposed guidelines for Norwegian soil quality. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Results from a nationwide multi-element survey of natural surface soils in Norway were subjected to robust principal factor analysis. The results confirm and emphasize the importance of atmospheric deposition as a source of given elements. Transboundary atmospheric transport is a major source of elements such as Pb, As, Sb, and Cd to surface soils in the southern part of the country. Another dominant factor associated with atmospheric deposition is airborne substances of marine origin. The significance of marine input for major cations such as Na+ and Mg++ is confirmed. Trace elements such as Se and Br are also clearly enriched in coastal areas. An additional effect of marine cations not previously demonstrated in the literature appears to be depletion of elements such as Mn, Ba, Eu in surface soils of the coastal regions.

Oil shale ash (OSA) from the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler was granulated and used as a sorbent for the removal of phenols from shale oil wastewater. The method for preparation of the sorbent involved washing of the ash, mixing with clay, gelling the mixture with sodium alginate solution, solidifying the granules in barium chloride solution, drying and calcination of the granules and modifying with a surfactant - hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The sorbent was characterized by specific surface area (BETN2), X-ray diffraction ( XRD) and Si-29 Magic Angle Spinning-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR) analysis. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the phenol adsorption isotherm at 20 degrees C and removal of water-soluble phenols from phenolic shale oil processing wastewater. Removal of phenols from wastewater was found to be 50-65% under given conditions.

Oil shale ash (OSA) from the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler was granulated and used as a sorbent for the removal of phenols from shale oil wastewater. The method for preparation of the sorbent involved washing of the ash, mixing with clay, gelling the mixture with sodium alginate solu­tion, solidifying the granules in barium chloride solution, drying and calcina­tion of the granules and modifying with a surfactant – hexadecyltrimethyl­ammonium bromide (CTAB). The sorbent was characterized by specific sur­face area (BETN2), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 29Si Magic Angle Spinning-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR) analysis. Batch adsorp­tion experi­ments were conducted to determine the phenol adsorption iso­therm at 20 °C and removal of water-soluble phenols from phenolic shale oil processing wastewater. Removal of phenols from wastewater was found to be 50–65% under given conditions.

Data sets for concentrations of up to 22 elements including Pb, Cd, Ag, As, and Hg and several rare earth elements (REEs) in moss and surface soil from all over mainland Norway are analyzed by positive matrix factorization (PMF) and principal component analysis (PCA) with centered log-ratio transformation. Moss and soil samples collected in 2010 and 2005, respectively, show both a distinct long-range atmospheric transport PMF factor including a dominant Pb loading along with smaller loadings of Mo, Cd, Sb, and As, and a geogenic factor dominated by Ce, La, and Y. Other PMF factors for moss and soil are mainly anthropogenic except for two soil factors, a Cr, Co, Ce dominated factor, and an Eu factor. The source area of Eu is mainly inland consistent with its divalent oxidation state. A significant advantage of PMF factors is that their loadings are scaled according to their relative factor contributions. The PMF air pollution factor F3 in moss with average contribution of 7.11 μg/g produces an air pollution input of 5.0 μg/g which compares well with literature values for the total Pb concentration in moss for 2005 in southern Norway. PCA has the advantage that it can separate factors with very low element concentrations. To support sources of elements identified by PCA it is recommended to include calculation of factor scores to identify significant source areas.

An important problem in soil magnetometry is unraveling the soil contamination signal in areas with multiple emitters. Here, geophysical and geochemical measurements were performed at four sites on a north - south transect along the Pasvik River in the Barents Region (northern Norway). These sites are influenced by depositions from the Bjørnevatn iron mine and a Ni-Cu smelter in Nikel, Russia. To relate the degree and type of pollution from these sources to the corresponding magnetic signal, the topsoil concentrations of 12 Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Ti, Zn), were determined, magnetic hysteresis parameters and thermomagnetic properties were measured. In situ magnetic low-field susceptibility decreases from north to south with increasing distance from the iron mine. Relatively large magnetic multidomain grains of magnetite and/or titanomagnetite are responsible for the strong magnetic signal from the topsoil close to Bjørnevatn. These particles are related to increased enrichment factors of As, Mo and Cu, yielding high positive correlation coefficients with susceptibility values. At a site furthest away from the iron mine and located 7 km from the Ni-Cu smelter magnetic susceptibility values are much lower but significant positive correlations on the level of p < .1 with 8 PTEs (Ni, Cu, Co, Se, As, Zn, Cd, Cr) have been observed. The magnetic signal in this area is due to fine-grained primary sulphides and secondary fine-grained magnetite and/or maghemite.

This paper aims to investigate the correlations between the concentrations of nine heavy metals in moss and atmospheric deposition within ecological land classes covering Europe. Additionally, it is examined to what extent the statistical relations are affected by the land use around the moss sampling sites. Based on moss data collected in 2010/2011 throughout Europe and data on total atmospheric deposition modelled by two chemical transport models (EMEP MSC-E, LOTOS-EUROS), correlation coefficients between concentrations of heavy metals in moss and in modelled atmospheric deposition were specified for spatial subsamples defined by ecological land classes of Europe (ELCE) as a spatial reference system. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and logistic regression (LR) were then used to separate moss sampling sites regarding their contribution to the strength of correlation considering the areal percentage of urban, agricultural and forestry land use around the sampling location. After verification LDA models by LR, LDA models were used to transform spatial information on the land use to maps of potential correlation levels, applicable for future network planning in the European Moss Survey.

This study presents the spatial distribution of 37 elements in 48 moss samples collected over the whole territory of Albania and provides information on sources and factors controlling the concentrations of elements in the moss. High variations of trace metals indicate that the concentrations of elements are affected by different factors. Relations between the elements in moss, geochemical interpretation of the data, and secondary effects such as redox conditions generated from local soil and/or long distance atmospheric transport of the pollutants are discussed. Zr normalized data, and the ratios of different elements are calculated to assess the origin of elements present in the current moss samples with respect to different geogenic and anthropogenic inputs. Factor analysis (FA) is used to identify the most probable sources of the elements. Four dominant factors are identified, i.e. natural contamination; dust emission from local mining operations; atmospheric transport of contaminants from local and long distance sources; and contributions from air borne marine salts.Mineral particle dust from local emission sources is classified as the most important factor affecting the atmospheric deposition of elements accumulated in the current moss samples. The open slag dumps of mining operation in Albania is probably the main factor contributing to high contents of Cr, Ni, Fe, Ti and Al in the moss. Enrichment factors (EF) were calculated to clarify whether the elements in the present moss samples mainly originate from atmospheric deposition and/or local substrate materials.

Selenium (Se) variations in the water column, suspended particulate matter, and sediment through the salinity gradient, together with water-quality parameters, were investigated over four different river conditions: lowest-highest runoff and high-low production period between November 2004 and August 2005 in the plume of the Gediz River, Aegean Sea, Turkey. The drainage basin of the Gediz delta is predominantly agricultural and industrial in character. Dissolved Se exceeded the water-quality standard of 5 mu gL(-1) during high flow and varied from 9.4 mu gL(-1) to 0.02 mu gL(-1) through the salinity gradient during the study period. Particulate Se ranged from 5.2 mu g L-1 to 0.02 mu g L-1. Sediment in the river mouth was highly affected by Se contamination and reached a level greater than four times (7.6 mu g g(-1) dry wt) the background level. The results indicated that Se supplied by the river was removed rapidly from the water column before the salinity reached an average value of about 20 and accumulated within the delta.

The past uranium/polymetallic mining activities in the Sudety (SW Poland) left abandoned mines, pits, and dumps of waste rocks with trace elements and radionuclides which may erode or leach out and create a potential risk for the aquatic ecosystem, among others. In the present work four rivers affected by effluents from such mines were selected to evaluate the application of aquatic mosses for the bioindication of 56 elements. Naturally growing F. antipyretica and P. riparioides were compared with transplanted samples of the same species. The results demonstrate serious pollution of the examined rivers, especially with As, Ba, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ti, U and Zn, reaching extremely high concentrations in native moss samples. In the most polluted rivers native F. antipyretica and P. riparioides samples showed significantly higher concentrations of As, Ba, Cu, Fe, La, Nd, Ni, Pb, U and Zn than corresponding transplanted samples, whereas at less polluted sites a reverse situation was sometimes observed. Transplanted moss moved from clean to extremely polluted rivers probably protects itself against the accumulation of toxic elements by reducing their uptake. Selection of native or transplanted F. antipyretica and P. riparioides depended on the pollution load.

Svalbard is an important study area for investigating the long-range transport of mercury (Hg) and other trace elements to the Arctic. Few studies have focused on their concentrations in Arctic soils. With ongoing climate change leading to thawing permafrost ground the soil compartment is of increasing importance in the Arctic. In this study, elemental composition and soil organic matter (SOM) content of surface and mineral soils in Svalbard are presented. The aim is to provide new data on soils in the Arctic and to gain more knowledge about the role of the soil in the biogeochemical cycle of mercury (Hg). Concentrations are reported for Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, S and Zn. Samples were taken in Adventdalen and in the area near Ny-angstrom lesund. We obtained a mean Hg concentration of 0.111 +/- 0.036 mu g/g in surface soils (range 0.041-0.254 mu g/g). Hg levels in mineral soils (mean: 0.025 +/- 0.013 mu g/g; range: 0.004-0.060 mu g/g) were substantially lower than in the corresponding surface soils. Hg strongly accumulates in the surface soil layer (upper 3 cm) and is associated with SOM (surface soil: 59 +/- 14%). Hg concentrations in the surface soil were slightly lower than those in the humus layer in mainland Norway and were comparable to levels in soils elsewhere in the Arctic. An inverse association of Hg was found with elements attributed to the mineral soil, indicating that Hg is predominantly derived from atmospheric deposition. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Objective: This study explores the statistical relations between the concentration of nine heavy metals (HM) (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn)), and nitrogen (N) in moss and potential explanatory variables (predictors) which were then used for mapping spatial patterns across Europe. Based on moss specimens collected in 2010 throughout Europe, the statistical relation between a set of potential predictors (such as the atmospheric deposition calculated by use of two chemical transport models (CfM), distance from emission sources, density of different land uses, population density, elevation, precipitation, clay content of soils) and concentrations of HMs and nitrogen (N) in moss (response variables) were evaluated by the use of Random Forests (RF) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Four spatial scales were regarded: Europe as a whole, ecological land classes covering Europe, single countries participating in the European Moss Survey (EMS), and moss species at sampling sites. Spatial patterns were estimated by applying a series of RF models on data on potential predictors covering Europe. Statistical values and resulting maps were used to investigate to what extent the models are specific for countries, units of the Ecological Land Classification of Europe (ELCE), and moss species.Results: Land use, atmospheric deposition and distance to technical emission sources mainly influence the element concentration in moss. The explanatory power of calculated RF models varies according to elements measured in moss specimens, country, ecological land class, and moss species. Measured and predicted medians of element concentrations agree fairly well while minima and maxima show considerable differences. The European maps derived from the RF models provide smoothed surfaces of element concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, N, Ni, Pb, Hg, V, Zn), each explained by a multivariate RF model and verified by CART, and thereby more information than the dot maps depicting the spatial patterns of measured values.Conclusions: RF is an eligible method identifying and ranking boundary conditions of element concentrations in moss and related mapping including the influence of the environmental factors. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Key message Moss surveys provide spatially dense data on environmental concentrations of heavy metals and nitrogen which, together with other biomonitoring and modelling data, can be used for indicating deposition to terrestrial ecosystems and related effects across time and areas of different spatial extension.Context For enhancing the spatial resolution of measuring and mapping atmospheric deposition by technical devices and by modelling, moss is used complementarily as bio-monitor.Aims This paper investigated whether nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations derived by biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition are statistically meaningful in terms of compliance with minimum sample size across several spatial levels (objective 1), whether this is also true in terms of geostatistical criteria such as spatial auto-correlation and, by this, estimated values for unsampled locations (objective 2) and whether moss indicates atmospheric deposition in a similar way as modelled deposition, tree foliage and natural surface soil at the European and country level, and whether they indicate site-specific variance due to canopy drip (objective 3).Methods Data from modelling and biomonitoring atmospheric deposition were statistically analysed by means of minimum sample size calculation, by geostatistics as well as by bivariate correlation analyses and by multivariate correlation analyses using the Classification and Regression Tree approach and the Random Forests method.Results It was found that the compliance of measurements with the minimum sample size varies by spatial scale and element measured. For unsampled locations, estimation could be derived. Statistically significant correlations between concentrations of heavy metals and nitrogen in moss and modelled atmospheric deposition, and concentrations in leaves, needles and soil were found. Significant influence of canopy drip on nitrogen concentration in moss was proven.Conclusion Moss surveys should complement modelled atmospheric deposition data as well as other biomonitoring approaches and offer a great potential for various terrestrial monitoring programmes dealing with exposure and effects.

Mass-loss rates during the early phase of decomposition of plant residues were studied for a period of 3 years in Norway spruce forests subjected to air pollution by Cu-Ni smelters on the Kola Peninsula, northwest Russia. Litterbags were deployed in two main patches of forests at the northern tree line, between and below the crowns of spruce trees older than 100 years. The study results demonstrated the dependence of the decomposition rates on the initial concentrations of nutrients and the C/N and lignin/N ratios in plant residues. Lower rates of mass loss in forests subject to air pollution may be related to low quality of plant residues, i.e. high concentrations of heavy metals, low concentrations of nutrients, and high lignin/N and C/N ratios. The increased losses of Ca, Mg, K, and Mn from plant residues in these forests compared to the reference were, probably, related to leaching of their compounds from the residues. The relatively high rates of heavy metal accumulation in the residues were most likely related to uptake of pollutants from the atmosphere, as well as to the lower mass-loss rates. The present study results demonstrate that the forest patchiness should be taken into account in assessment and predictions of decomposition rates in Norway spruce forests. Mass-loss rates of plant residues below the crowns of old spruce trees were significantly lower than those in the patches between the crowns. This was explained by the high C/N and lignin/N ratios in the residues of evergreens which contribute significantly to litterfall below the crowns and by lower soil temperature during winter and spring below the crowns. In addition, a lower amount of precipitation reaching the forest floor below the dense, long crowns of old Norway spruce trees may result in considerably lower washing out of the organic compounds from the residues. Lower mass-loss rates below the crowns of old spruce trees may be part of the evidence that the old-growth spruce forests can continue to accumulate carbon in soil.