Distribution and Migration of Heavy Metals in Undisturbed Forest Soils: A High Resolution Sampling Method

The vertical distribution and migration of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in two forest soil proflles near an industrial emission source were investigated using a high resolution sampling method together with reference element Ti. One-meter soil proflle was sectioned horizontally at 2 cm intervals in the flrst 40 cm, 5 cm intervals in the next 40 cm, and 10 cm intervals in the last 20 cm. The migration distance and rate of heavy metals in the soil proflles were calculated according to their relative concentrations in the proflles, as calibrated by the reference element Ti. The enrichment of heavy metals appeared in the uppermost layer of the forest soil, and the soil heavy metal concentrations decreased down the proflle until reaching their background values. The calculated average migration rates of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were 0.70, 0.33, 0.37, and 0.76 cm year −1 , respectively, which were comparable to other methods. A simulation model was proposed, which could well describe the distribution of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in natural forest soils.