THE EFFECTS OF LEAD SHOT DEPOSITION ON SOILS AND CROPS AT A CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING SITE IN NORTHERN ENGLAND

The impact of lead shot on soils and crops was examined at a clay pige on shooting site in northern England. Topsoil cores were collected alo ng a 300 m transect from the shooting range, and the numbers of lead s hot pellets per soil core, total and 'plant-available' (0.5M acetic ac id extractable) lead concentrations, organic matter content, pH and ca tion exchange capacity were determined. The number of oilseed rape pla nts and their stem diameters were recorded in 1 m2 quadrats placed at the soil sampling locations. Total and 'plant-available' lead concentr ations in the soil were most but plant numbers per m2 and mean stem di ameters were least in the area of greatest lead shot deposition. Total lead concentrations in the soil commonly exceeded 5000 mg/kg; these a re considerably greater than threshold 'trigger' concentrations propos ed by the Department of the Environment, above which soils are conside red to be contaminated and warrant further investigation. Concentratio ns of lead in the oilseed rape plants themselves were also largest in the area of most intense lead shot deposition; in root samples the lea d concentration exceeded 400 mg/kg. The management and remediation of contaminated soils at the clay pigeon shooting site are discussed.