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High cadmium concentrations in Jurassic limestone as the cause for elevated cadmium levels in deriving soils: a case study in Lower Burgundy, France

Rambeau, Claire ; Baize, Denis ; Saby, Nicolas ; Matera, Virginie ; Adatte, Thierry ; Föllmi, Karl

In: Environmental Earth Sciences, 2010, vol. 61, no. 8, p. 1573-1585

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    Titre
    • High cadmium concentrations in Jurassic limestone as the cause for elevated cadmium levels in deriving soils: a case study in Lower Burgundy, France
    Auteur
    • Rambeau, Claire. Institut de Géologie, Université de Neuchâtel, rue Emile-Argand 11, 2007, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
    • Baize, Denis. Science du Sol UR 0272, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Av. de la Pomme de Pin, CS 40001, 45075, Orléans Cedex 2, France
    • Saby, Nicolas. Science du Sol UR 0272, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Av. de la Pomme de Pin, CS 40001, 45075, Orléans Cedex 2, France
    • Matera, Virginie. Institut de Géologie, Université de Neuchâtel, rue Emile-Argand 11, 2007, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
    • Adatte, Thierry. Institut de Géologie, Université de Neuchâtel, rue Emile-Argand 11, 2007, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
    • Föllmi, Karl. Institut de Géologie, Université de Neuchâtel, rue Emile-Argand 11, 2007, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Environmental Earth Sciences, 2010, vol. 61, no. 8, p. 1573-1585. Springer-Verlag
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:311922
    Summary
    Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic element and its presence in the environment needs to be closely monitored. Recent systematic surveys in French soils have revealed the existence of areas in eastern and central France, which show systematically high cadmium concentrations. It has been suggested that at least part of these anomalous levels are of natural origin. For the Lower Burgundy area in particular, a direct heritage from the Jurassic limestone bedrock is highly suspected. This potential relationship has been studied in several localities around Avallon and this study reports new evidence for a direct link between anomalously elevated cadmium contents of Bajocian and Oxfordian limestone and high cadmium concentrations in deriving soils. Soils in this area show cadmium concentrations generally above the average national population values, with contents frequently higher than the ‘upper whisker' value of 0.8μgg−1 determined by statistical evaluation. In parallel, limestone rocks studied in the same area exhibit cadmium concentrations frequently exceeding the mean value of 0.030-0.065μgg−1 previously given for similar rocks by one order of magnitude, with a maximum of 2.6μgg−1. Mean ratios between the cadmium concentrations of limestone bedrock and deriving soils (Cdsoil/Cdrock), calculated for different areas, range from 4.6 to 5.7. Calculations based on the analyses of both soils from a restricted area and fragments of bedrock sampled in the immediate vicinity of high-concentration soils are around 5.5-5.7. Cdsoil/Cdrock is useful in determining the potential of soils in Lower Burgundy to reflect and exacerbate the high concentrations of cadmium present in parent bedrocks