Anthropogenic metal storage in wetland soils across the conterminous United States
Abstract
Wetlands
provide
many
ecosystem
services,
such
as
mitigating
pollution,
attenuating
flooding
and
drought
extremes,
providing
habitat
for
species.
However,
studies
quantifying
potential
wetland
sequestration
of
heavy
metals
an
service,
particularly
across
large
spatial
extents,
are
sparse.
We
utilized
data
from
the
United
States
Environmental
Protection
Agency’s
National
Wetland
Condition
Assessment
to
estimate
anthropogenic
metal
(Pb,
Cu,
Cr)
storage
by
mass
in
upper
40
centimeters
soils
conterminous
(CONUS)—never
done
before
at
this
scale.
Large
amounts
Cu
Cr
stored
soil
CONUS,
299.5
±
73.2
(95%
confidence
interval)
483.4
132.1
thousand
metric
tons
(MT),
respectively.
Anthropogenic
Pb
totaled
394.3
265.2
MT,
which,
context,
is
roughly
equivalent
7%
lead-based
gasoline
additives
used
U.S.
between
1927–1994.
Between
15–22%
Cr,
within
cm
CONUS
estimated
be
anthropogenic.
also
loading
normalize
area
compare
different
types
features.
In
most
cases,
redox
state,
tidal
influence,
hydrologic
regime,
geographical
region
do
not
substantially
impact
estimates
loading.
It
clear,
though,
that
wetlands
often
contain
substantive
monitoring
and/or
geochemical
changes
important
discern
whether
any
may
mobilize
pose
a
hazard
ecosystems
or
human
health.
Research Square (Research Square), Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown
Опубликована: Апрель 17, 2025
Язык: Английский