Testing the indicative value of magnetic susceptibility measurements for concluding on site potentials and risks provoked by fly ash deposition

Environ Manage. 2010 Dec;46(6):894-907. doi: 10.1007/s00267-010-9572-5. Epub 2010 Oct 9.

Abstract

The article presents results of testing the indicative value of magnetic susceptibility for fly ash deposition and its effects on forest site properties. Base saturation and concentrations of Ca and Mg were used as indicators for nutrient pools resulting from fly ash deposition. Concentrations of Fe, Al, Mn, Cd and Black Carbon were used as indicators for risks of leaching. The correlation of magnetic susceptibility with concentrations of nutrient, acidic cations, heavy metals, base saturation and Black Carbon was calculated. Additionally, we tested the suitability of magnetic susceptibility as a parameter in a linear regression based model to predict the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Mn, Cd and Black Carbon. We were able to show a positive correlation between magnetic susceptibility and the selected indicators. In contrast to previous studies, we were also able to demonstrate the suitability of magnetic susceptibility to predict the size of fly ash deposition influenced nutrient pools mainly for humus layers, especially for Oa horizons. The spatial distribution of magnetic susceptibility showed also a positive correlation with regionalized base saturation. However, because of the data base and other factors impacting the measurement and modeling results, some shortcomings of using a linear regression model must be noted. From these results, we concluded that magnetic susceptibility might be a valuable parameter in a multiple regression based approach, but should not be used alone for predicting effects of fly ash deposition.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Air Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Coal Ash
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Environmental Pollution / statistics & numerical data
  • Incineration
  • Linear Models
  • Magnetics
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis
  • Metals, Heavy / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Particulate Matter / chemistry*
  • Risk Factors
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis
  • Soil Pollutants / chemistry
  • Soot / analysis

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Coal Ash
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Particulate Matter
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Soot
  • Carbon