Abstract
Geochemical assessment has become a cost-effective and highly accurate tool for estimating metal contamination, especially in those cases where the level of contamination is not considered severe. Difficulties frequently arise in attempting to discriminate between pristine metal concentrations and low-level environmental impacts. As an example, Vanadium contamination is frequently associated with coal and petroleum bi-products; however, air and water contamination pathways are also possible. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the V and Fe concentration relationship among a wide variety of soil types and to formulate an estimate of the pristine V concentrations in these soils. If a linear relationship may be established between Fe and V, then geochemical analysis of impacted soils may discriminate between V as a natural background component and anthropogenic V. Forty-six moderately well-drained to well-drained soil profiles having cambic, argillic or calcic soil horizons were characterized for Fe and V using an aqua-regia digestion to determine if these soils exhibited a one-to-one correspondence between V and Fe. Such a correspondence was authenticated for the majority of these soils and may be used to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic V. The presence of argillic, calcic or fragipan horizons did not reduce the one-to-one correspondence between V and Fe, suggesting that these soil processes did not selectively partition either V or Fe. The method needs to be further evaluated for soils having anoxic soil conditions, lithologic discontinuities and other specific pedogenic processes.
Published Version
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