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Comparison of metal distributions in snow, peat, lakes and humus around a Cu smelter in western Québec, Canada

Geological Survey of Canada, 610 Booth St., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E8, Canada (e-mail: gbonhamc@nrcan.gc.ca)

Concentrations of metals around the Cu smelter at Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, in snow, peat, the humus horizon of soil, lake water and sediments, show generally similar spatial distribution patterns. The contours of smelter-related metal concentrations in all these media are approximately circular in shape, centred on the smelter, and elongated somewhat towards the east due to the prevailing wind direction. Close to the smelter, the concentrations are up to 1000 times greater than regional background levels. The distances at which concentrations of smelter-related metals decrease to background levels is in the range 65 ± 5 km.

The ratio of (Cu+As)/(Al+Fe) is a useful indicator of source apportionment for comparing the results between sampling media because it is independent of measurement units and maximizes the contrast between smelter and non-smelter materials. The value of the ratio, which changes as a function of distance from the smelter, reflects the mixing and dilution of emissions with non-smelter dust and aerosols.

Deposition rates of metal calculated for snow and peat integrated over the area of the smelter-centred anomaly allow estimates to be made of the amounts of metal deposited from the smelter, after correcting for deposition of background metal. The proportions of reported metal emissions accounted for by deposition within 150 km of the smelter are: Cu, 25–50%; Pb, 10–20%; Zn, 25%; As, 5%; and Cd 20–25%. Metals in excess of these proportions are probably transported outside the immediate smelter footprint, but deposition of smelter-emitted metals becomes so small at these distances, and so mixed with airborne metals from other sources, that it is difficult to discriminate between smelter and non-smelter sources in samples taken on the ground.

KEYWORDS: atmospheric pollution, smelter emissions, Noranda, Canada

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