Tracing the sources of sulfur in Beijing soils with stable sulfur isotopes

摘要

Stable sulfur isotope analyses were applied in order to trace local sulfur sources and to identify sulfur turnover rates in Beijing soil. Anthropogenic sources and atmospheric deposition are the main processes responsible for the occurrence of sulfide, organic and sulfate sulfur in three soil profiles located in the vicinity of a steel company in Beijing, China. This input results in an atypical invariable sulfur isotopic composition along the vertical profiles. The delta S-34 values of soil sulfate from the industrial area revealed that both the topsoil and deep soil have been affected by industrial activities. Three soil profiles from non-industrial areas displayed vertical patterns in both sulfur abundance and sulfur isotopic composition, indicative for (dose to) natural soils.