ZINC, CU, NI AND CD IN THE FOREST FLOOR IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED-STATES

A regional study was conducted to assess current levels of trace metals in the forest floor, and to establish a baseline for future studies of metal accumulation. Quantitative forest floor samples collected from 78 sites in 9 states in the northeastern United States in 1978 and 1980 were analyzed for Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd. Differences in metal and organic matter concentrations and amounts among forest types were attributed to geographic location of specific forest types rather than to direct biotic influence. No element was strongly correlated with elevation for the entire sample area. Regional patterns of elemental amounts showed that trace metal levels are slightly higher in the southern part than in the northern part of the study region. Regional variation of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd in the forest floor was not indicative of atmospheric deposition except near point sources of pollution.