Assessment of vertical contamination of Cd, Pb and Zn in soils around a former ore smelter in Wallonia, Belgium

peer reviewed ; Concentrations of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and major elements (Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Al and Mn) as well as pHKCl and total organic carbon (TOC) were measured on 22 profiles located in a 3 km radius of a former ore-treatment plant in Wallonia (Belgium). The enrichment factor (EF), vertical impoverishment factor (VIF) and availability ratio (AR) were used as diagnostic tools of contamination and migration of Cd, Pb and Zn in profiles. The data revealed that the soil profiles are significantly contaminated. The ranges of EFs for Cd (17–3570), Pb (1–2883) and Zn (2–3... Mehr ...