Regional modeling of cadmium leaching to groundwater in the Kempen region, The Netherlands

Sandy soils in the border area of Belgium and the Netherlands (the Kempen region), are heavily contaminated with cadmium and zinc by atmospheric deposition from nearby smelters. Leaching of heavy metals from the topsoil is a major risk for groundwater contamination. The sandy soils in the Kempen area are vulnerable for leaching due to the acidifying conditions in these soils. Regional modeling of groundwater contamination by leaching of cadmium from soils in a diffusely polluted area is the subject of this study. An attempt has been made to model the present and predict the future concentratio... Mehr ...