EVALUATING MOBILIZATION AND TRANSPORT OF TRACE ELEMENTS WITHIN PREDOMINANTLY AGRICULTURAL SOILS OF LEBANON, CT

Trace elements input into the environment can be from either anthropogenic sources relating to various land use activities or geogenic due to weathering processes through which elements are mobilized within the environment. This study examined the impact of land use activities, and geology on the mobilization, and transport of fourteen (14) trace and major elements (As, Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, and Zn) within top soils across Lebanon, a predominant agricultural area. The overall goal is to determine possible sources of these chemical elements and their potential impact on hydrologic systems. In order to address this objective, a total of eighty eight (88) soil samples were collected throughout the entire town of Lebanon. The soil were air dried, acid digested and quantified for acid and soluble extractable elements. In addition, basic soil components such as particle size distribution, cation exchange capacity, percent base saturation and soluble salts were determined. Results shows spatial variability in concentrations of chemical elements within different land use area across Lebanon, CT. Using GIS maps with overlays of hydrology and land use activity, correlations between trace elements and different land use were examined. Results indicate positive correlation between the trace elements as well as percent of clay and silt particles, indicating partitioning of these elements to finer grain sizes. In addition, statistical analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), showed possible contribution from both geogenic and anthropogenic sources.