MOBILITY AND RETENTION OF HEAVY-METALS, ARSENIC AND SULFUR IN PODZOLSAT 8 LOCATIONS IN NORTHERN FINLAND AND NORWAY AND THE WESTERN HALF OFTHE RUSSIAN KOLA-PENINSULA

The mobility and retention of heavy metals, arsenic and sulphur in pod zols from eight areas located north of the Arctic Circle in Finland, N orway and Russia were determined by analyzing the < 2.0 mm fraction, u sing an ammonium acetate (pH 4.5) extraction in addition to a concentr ated nitric acid digestion for the humus samples, and a hot aqua regia digestion for the mineral soil samples. Total C, H and N concentratio ns were determined in humus and mineral soil samples with a CHN analys er. Ni, Cu, Co and As were strongly enriched in the humus layer in the contaminated sites (Monchegorsk, Kurka, Zapoljarnij) when compared to their concentrations in the parent tills and in podzols from the back ground sites. In most study sites the illuvial layer showed a low capa city to retain the metals and As, the exception included a strongly er oded profile at Monchegorsk, where Ni was tightly fixed in the illuvia l layer while Cu was mobile. In contrast to metals, airborne S was not accumulated in the humus layer, but was accumulated in the illuvial l ayer, more markedly at eroded sites than in places where the humus was covered as at Monchegorsk. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.