Geochemical soil atlas of Switzerland: Cadmium

Interpolated cadmium concentrations (mg/kg fine soil) in the topsoils (0-20 cm) of Switzerland. For the Ordinary Kriging Interpolations (1 km x 1 km), measurement data from a total of 1,201 sites of the Swiss Biodiversity Monitoring System, the National Soil Observation System and the European Soil Geochemical Atlas were taken into account. Element concentrations were analyzed in aqua regia outcrop (HNO3:HCl:H2O) from dried (40°C), sieved (< 2 mm) and subsequently ground soil samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Sites with known anthropogenic over-embossing of element concentrations (point sources) were excluded in advance. The results of the soil geochemical atlas are a snapshot of the element concentrations in the topsoils of Switzerland (sampling period 2011-2015). The interpolated maps serve to improve the visualization of regions with elevated or low concentrations. However, no parcel-sharp information or definitive conclusions on the geology, bioavailability, the percentage distribution of geogenous and anthropogenic sources as well as the load on the soil can be derived from this. Quotation of Publication: J. E. Reusser, M. B. Siegenthaler, L. H. E. Winkel, D. Wächter, R. Kretzschmar, R. G. Meuli: Geochemical soil atlas of Switzerland. Agroscope, Zurich, 2023.