Relationship between levels of copper, uranium, and lead in glacial sediments and in Vaccinium uliginosum at an arctic site enriched with heavy metals

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Abstract
Vaccinium uliginosum L. (bog blueberry), its mineral soil substrate, and the till on which the soil is developed were sampled at a site of uranium–copper–lead mineralization in the tundra of the central District of Keewatin. Levels of Cu and U in till result from dispersal of minerals glacially eroded from a metal-rich bedrock source. The pattern strongly expressed for Cu and U up to 1500 m from the source is not readily detectable for Pb.Concentrations of ashed Vaccinium uliginosum growing on till ranged from 0.4 to 980 ppm U, 4.5 to 3973 ppm Cu, and 0.1 to 3964 ppm Pb, values greater than previously recorded for the species. The concentrations of U and Cu were significantly correlated to metal levels in till with r = 0.98 for uranium and; r = 0.78 for copper. Data did not permit statistical analysis of soil Pb versus plant Pb.

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