Long term high resolution heavy metal leaching from soils to surface waters in a Dutch catchment

The impact of seasonal variation and drainage conditions on the leaching of cadmium and zinc was investigated by the application of a distributed pseudo 2D-model to the Keersop catchment in the south of The Netherlands. Soils in the area have been contaminated with heavy metals from zinc smelters during the period 1890 - 1973. Measurements indicated that these metals accumulate in the unsaturated upper part of the soils in the area. Metal concentrations in surface waters that drain the area were also elevated. A dynamic modelling approach for the soil system was applied to analyse the impact o... Mehr ...