Distribution and variation of arsenic in Wisconsin surface soils, with data on other trace elements
Scientific Investigations Report
2011-5202
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services
By: Krista A. Stensvold
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Abstract
A total of 664 soil samples distributed among different geographic regions and soil types were collected across Wisconsin to describe the distribution of arsenic relative to parent material, soil texture, and drainage class. Soils from 6 inches in depth were composited, digested in aqua regia, and analyzed for 17 trace elements. Observed soil arsenic concentrations range from a high of 39 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) to less than the laboratory detection limit of 1 mg/kg. Ten samples with soil arsenic concentrations greater than 8.5 mg/kg were determined to be significantly separate from the main cluster of the dataset. With these outliers removed, overall soil arsenic concentrations in Wisconsin have a median value of 1.8 mg/kg, and the 95-percent upper confidence limit of the mean is 2.4 mg/kg.
Soils with sandy glacial outwash as a parent material have a lower median arsenic concentration (1.0 mg/kg) than soils forming in other parent materials (1.5 to 3.0 mg/kg). Soil texture and drainage category also influence median arsenic concentration. Finer grained soils have a higher observed range of concentrations. For loamy and loess-dominated soil groups, drainage category influences the median arsenic concentration and observed range of values, but a consistent relationship within the data is not apparent. Statistical analysis of the 16 other elements are presented in this report, but the relationships of concentrations to soil properties or geographic areas were not examined.
Suggested Citation
Stensvold, K.A., 2012, Distribution and variation of arsenic in Wisconsin surface soils, with data on other trace elements (First posted March 15, 2012; Revised February 25, 2013): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5202, v, 13 p.; Appendix, https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20115202.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Distribution and variation of arsenic in Wisconsin surface soils, with data on other trace elements |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2011-5202 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20115202 |
| Edition | First posted March 15, 2012; Revised February 25, 2013 |
| Year Published | 2012 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Wisconsin Water Science Center |
| Description | v, 13 p.; Appendix |
| Time Range Start | 2006-09-01 |
| Time Range End | 2007-11-30 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Other Geospatial | Copper Falls Formation;Green Bay Lobe;Lake Michigan Lobe;Central Sands;Driftless Area;Des Moines Lobe |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |