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Wilhelm K, Longman J, Standish CD, De Kock T. The Historic Built Environment As a Long-Term Geochemical Archive: Telling the Time on the Urban "Pollution Clock". ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12362-12375. [PMID: 37436401 PMCID: PMC10448721 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
This study introduces a novel methodology for utilizing historic built environments as reliable long-term geochemical archives, addressing a gap in the reconstruction of past anthropogenic pollution levels in urban settings. For the first time, we employ high-resolution laser ablation mass spectrometry for lead isotope (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/206Pb) analysis on 350-year-old black crust stratigraphies found on historic built structures, providing insights into past air pollution signatures. Our findings reveal a gradual shift in the crust stratigraphy toward lower 206Pb/207Pb and higher 208Pb/206Pb isotope ratios from the older to the younger layers, indicating changes in lead sources over time. Mass balance analysis of the isotope data shows black crust layers formed since 1669 primarily contain over 90% Pb from coal burning, while other lead sources from a set of modern pollution including but not limited to leaded gasoline (introduced after 1920) become dominant (up to 60%) from 1875 onward. In contrast to global archives such as ice cores that provide integrated signals of long-distance pollution, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of localized pollution levels, specifically in urban settings. Our approach complements multiple sources of evidence, enhancing our understanding of air pollution dynamics and trends, and the impact of human activities on urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Wilhelm
- Oxford
Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Laboratory (OxRBL), School of Geography
and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, U.K.
| | - Jack Longman
- Marine
Isotope Geochemistry, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine
Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Department
of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Christopher D. Standish
- School
of Ocean & Earth Sciences, University
of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, U.K.
| | - Tim De Kock
- Antwerp
Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES), Faculty of Design, University of Antwerp Blindestraat 9, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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2
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Newman JE, Levasseur PA, Beckett P, Watmough SA. The impact of severe pollution from smelter emissions on carbon and metal accumulation in peatlands in Ontario, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 320:121102. [PMID: 36669721 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Peatlands are unique habitats that function as a carbon (C) sink and an archive of atmospheric metal deposition. Sphagnum mosses are key components of peatlands but can be adversely impacted by air pollution potentially affecting rates of C and metal accumulation in peat. In this study we evaluate how the loss of Sphagnum in peatlands close to a copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) smelter in Sudbury, Ontario affected C accumulation and metal profiles. The depth of accumulated peat formed during the 100+ year period of smelter activities also increased with distance from the smelter. Concurrently, peat bulk density decreased with distance from the smelter, which resulted in relatively similar average rates of apparent C accumulation (32-46 g/m2/yr). These rates are within the range of published values despite the historically high pollution loadings. Surface peat close to the smelters was greatly enriched in Cu and Ni, and Cu profiles in dated peat cores generally coincide with known pollution histories much better than Ni that increased well before the beginning of smelter activities likely a result of post-deposition mobility in peat cores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi E Newman
- Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Patrick A Levasseur
- Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Peter Beckett
- School of Natural Sciences and the Vale Living with Lakes Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Shaun A Watmough
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada
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3
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Andronikov AV, Novak M, Oulehle F, Chrastny V, Sebek O, Andronikova IE, Stepanova M, Sipkova A, Hruska J, Myska O, Chuman T, Veselovsky F, Curik J, Prechova E, Komarek A. Catchment Runoff in Industrial Areas Exports Legacy Pollutant Zinc from the Topsoil Rather than Geogenic Zn. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:8035-8044. [PMID: 34042419 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In highly industrialized, densely populated parts of Central Europe, mobilization of legacy Zn pollution from forest ecosystems may negatively affect the quality of water resources. To test this hypothesis, we determined the 66Zn/64Zn isotope ratios of 15 Zn reservoirs and fluxes in an acidified, spruce die-back affected mountain-slope catchment in northern Czech Republic. The δ66Zn values of precipitation, organic horizon, and runoff were statistically indistinguishable. In contrast, δ66Zn values of bedrock orthogneiss and mineral soil were significantly different from δ66Zn values of runoff. The magnitude of within-site Zn isotope fractionations appeared to be relatively small. Despite the large potential source of Zn in bedrock, runoff exported mostly young pollutant Zn that had been temporarily stored in the organic horizon. This conclusion was corroborated by comparing Zn input-output mass balances in the polluted northern catchment and in a relatively unpolluted catchment situated 250 km to the south. Seven-times higher Zn export via runoff at the northern site was controlled by a combination of 10-times higher atmospheric Zn input and five-times higher DOC leaching, compared to the southern site. In industrial areas, atmospherically deposited Zn is leached from headwater catchments in a direct analogy to leaching of highly toxic pollutant Pb.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Novak
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Oulehle
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Vladislav Chrastny
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Sebek
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | | | - Marketa Stepanova
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Adela Sipkova
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Hruska
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Oldrich Myska
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Chuman
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | | | - Jan Curik
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Prechova
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Arnost Komarek
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Sokolovska 49, 186 75 Prague 8, Czech Republic
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4
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Yakovlev E, Druzhinina A, Druzhinin S, Bedrina D, Orlov A. Assessment of physicochemical parameters and metal distribution in bog peat of the western segment of the North European part of Russia (Arkhangelsk region). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:300-313. [PMID: 32812155 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10501-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This article is devoted to the study of physicochemical parameters and the assessment of the accumulation and distribution of metals in peat deposits from the North European part of Russia (Arkhangelsk region). Peat profiles were selected both in the area with a high anthropogenic load and in a bog remote from industrial pollution. The determination of metals was carried out by using the methods X-ray fluorescence analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. It was determined that the studied bogs can be attributed to the low ash type, and the recorded pH and mineralisation values make it possible to attribute these deposits to the acid-oxidising facies of oligotrophic peatlands, characteristic of taiga landscapes. Assessment of metal accumulation showed a high content of titanium, chromium, lead, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, aluminium, silicon, and copper in peat, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels and industrial production, as well as the burning of urban and industrial waste. The peat profiles are characterised by significant fluctuations in the content of elements in different horizons. Studies have shown the need to monitor the content of metals in peatlands from the Arkhangelsk region to assess atmospheric pollution from industrial emissions, both at the moment and in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny Yakovlev
- N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Northern Dvina Emb. 23, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia.
| | - Anna Druzhinina
- N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Northern Dvina Emb. 23, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia
| | - Sergey Druzhinin
- N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Northern Dvina Emb. 23, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia
| | - Daria Bedrina
- N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Northern Dvina Emb. 23, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia
| | - Alexander Orlov
- N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Northern Dvina Emb. 23, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia
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5
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Longman J, Ersek V, Veres D. High variability between regional histories of long-term atmospheric Pb pollution. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20890. [PMID: 33262534 PMCID: PMC7708465 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77773-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of metal processing was one of the key technological evolutions presaging the development of modern society. However, the interplay between metal use and the long-term changes it induced in the development and functioning of past societies remains unclear. We present a compilation of global records of anthropogenic atmospheric lead (Pb) spanning the last 4000 years, an effective indirect proxy for reliably assessing Pb emissions directly linked to human activities. Separating this global Pb pollution signal into regionally representative clusters allows identification of regional differences in pollution output that reflect technological innovations, market demands, or demise of various human cultures for last 4000 years. Our European reconstruction traces well periods of intensive metal production such as the Roman and Medieval periods, in contrast to clusters from the Americas, which show low levels of atmospheric Pb until the Industrial Revolution. Further investigation of the European synthesis results displays clear regional variation in the timing and extent of past development of polluting activities. This indicates the challenges of using individual reconstructions to infer regional or global development in Pb output and related pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Longman
- Marine Isotope Geochemistry, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany. .,School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK.
| | - Vasile Ersek
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Daniel Veres
- Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, Clinicilor 5, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. .,EDYTEM, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, CNRS, Le Bourget du Lac, France.
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6
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De Vleeschouwer F, Baron S, Cloy JM, Enrico M, Ettler V, Fagel N, Kempter H, Kylander M, Li C, Longman J, Martinez-Cortizas A, Marx S, Mattielli N, Mighall T, Nieminen TM, Piotrowska N, Pontevedra-Pombal X, Pratte S, Renson V, Shotyk W, Shuttleworth E, Sikorski J, Stromsoe N, Talbot J, von Scheffer C, Weiss D, Zaccone C, Le Roux G. Comment on: "A novel approach to peatlands as archives of total cumulative spatial pollution loads from atmospheric deposition of airborne elements complementary to EMEP data: Priority pollutants (Pb, Cd, Hg)" by Ewa Miszczak, Sebastian Stefaniak, Adam Michczyński, Eiliv Steinnes and Irena Twardowska. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 737:138699. [PMID: 32376094 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A recent paper by Miszczak et al. (2020) examines metal contamination of mires in Poland and Norway. The authors conclude that lead (Pb) records in ombrotrophic peatlands cannot be used to reconstruct the chronological history of anthropogenic activities due to post-depositional mobility of the metal. We contest this general conclusion which stands in contrast with a significant body of literature demonstrating that Pb is largely immobile in the vast majority of ombrotrophic peatlands. Our aim is to reaffirm the crucial contribution that peat records have made to our knowledge of atmospheric Pb contamination. In addition, we reiterate the necessity of following established protocols to produce reliable records of anthropogenic Pb contamination in environmental archives.
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Affiliation(s)
- F De Vleeschouwer
- Instituto Franco-Argentino para el Estudio del Clima y sus Impactos (UMI IFAECI/CNRS-CONICET-UBA-IRD), Argentina.
| | - S Baron
- Laboratoire TRACES (CNRS, Université de Toulouse), France
| | - J M Cloy
- Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M Enrico
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - V Ettler
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - N Fagel
- AGEs, Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Belgium
| | - H Kempter
- Welzheimer Str. 14, D-71566 Althuette, Germany
| | - M Kylander
- Department of Geological Sciences and the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Sweden
| | - C Li
- Geoscience Environnement Toulouse (CNRS-UPS-IRD-CNAP-CNES), France
| | - J Longman
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | - S Marx
- GeoQuEST Research Centre, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - N Mattielli
- Laboratoire G-Time, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - T Mighall
- School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - T M Nieminen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland Luke, Helsinki, Finland
| | - N Piotrowska
- Silesian University of Technology, Institute of Physics-CSE, GADAM Center, Gliwice, Poland
| | | | - S Pratte
- Department of Geography, School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - V Renson
- Research Reactor, University of Missouri, USA
| | - W Shotyk
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - J Sikorski
- Silesian University of Technology, Institute of Physics-CSE, GADAM Center, Gliwice, Poland
| | - N Stromsoe
- College of Engineering, IT and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Australia
| | - J Talbot
- Département de Géographie, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | - C von Scheffer
- Institute for Ecosystem Research, Kiel University, Germany
| | - D Weiss
- Imperial College London, UK; Princeton University, Princeton, USA
| | - C Zaccone
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Italy
| | - G Le Roux
- Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
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7
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Novak M, Vile MA, Curik J, Cejkova B, Barta J, Stepanova M, Jackova I, Buzek F, Bohdalkova L, Prechova E, Veselovsky F, Adamova M, Valkova I, Komarek A. Retraction Statement: Comparison of nitrogen inputs and accumulation in 210 Pb-dated peat cores: Evidence for biological N 2 -fixation in Central European peatlands despite decades of atmospheric N pollution. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1547. [PMID: 30375707 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
"Comparison of nitrogen inputs and accumulation in 210 Pb-dated peat cores: Evidence for biological N2 -fixation in Central European peatlands despite decades of atmospheric N pollution" https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14505, by Martin Novak, Melanie A. Vile, Jan Curik, Bohuslava Cejkova, Jiri Barta, Marketa Stepanova, Ivana Jackova, Frantisek Buzek, Leona Bohdalkova, Eva Prechova, Frantisek Veselovsky, Marie Adamova, Ivana Valkova and Arnost Komarek. The above article, first published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) in Global Change Biology, has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor-in-Chief, Stephen P. Long, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Since publication of the above article, it was brought to the attention of the authors that the peat accretion rates violate reasonable ranges of peatland C/N/P stoichiometry, placing the quantitative conclusions of the article in serious error. The authors apologize for any inconvenience the publication of this work may have caused our readers. REFERENCE Novak, M., Vile, M. A., Cejkova, B., Barta, J., Stepanova, M., Jackova, I., Buzek, F., Bohdalkova, L., Prechova, E., Veselovsky, F., Adamova, M., Valkova, I., & Komarek, A. (2018). Comparison of nitrogen inputs and accumulation in 210 Pb-dated peat cores: Evidence for biological N2 -fixation in Central European peatlands despite decades of atmospheric N pollution. Global Change Biology.. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14505.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Novak
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Melanie A Vile
- Department of Geography and the Environment, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania
| | - Jan Curik
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Bohuslava Cejkova
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Barta
- Department of Ecosystems Biology, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Marketa Stepanova
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Jackova
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Buzek
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Leona Bohdalkova
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Prechova
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Veselovsky
- Department of High-temperature Geochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Adamova
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Valkova
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Czech Geological Survey, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Arnost Komarek
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague 8, Czech Republic
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8
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Bohdálková L, Bohdálek P, Břízová E, Pacherová P, Kuběna AA. Atmospheric metal pollution records in the Kovářská Bog (Czech Republic) as an indicator of anthropogenic activities over the last three millennia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 633:857-874. [PMID: 29602122 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Three peat cores were extracted from the Kovářská Bog in the central Ore Mountains to study anthropogenic pollution generated by mining and metallurgy. The core profiles were 14C dated, and concentrations of selected elements were determined by ICP MS and HG-AAS. Principal component analysis indicated that Pb, Cu, As and Ag may be useful elements for the reconstruction of historical atmospheric pollution. Total and anthropogenic accumulation rates (ARs) of Pb, Cu and As estimated for the last ca. 3500years showed similar chronologies, and revealed twelve periods of elevated ARs of Pb, As and Cu related to possible mining and metallurgic activities. In total, four periods of elevated ARs of Pb, Cu and As were detected during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, including a distinct Late Bronze Age pollution event between 1030BCE and 910BCE. The Iron Age included three episodes of increased ARs of Pb and As; the first and the most distinctive episode, recorded between 730 and 440BCE, was simultaneous with the Bylany culture during the Hallstatt Period. The Roman Age was characterized by one pollution event, two events were detected in the Middle Ages, and the last two during the modern period. Enhanced element ARs in the late 12th and 15th centuries clearly documented the onset of two periods of intense mining in the Ore Mountains. Metal ARs culminated in ca. 1600CE, and subsequently decreased after the beginning of the Thirty Years' War. The last boom of mining between 1700CE and 1830CE represented the last period of important metallurgical operations. Late Medieval and modern period metal ARs are in good agreement with written documents. Earlier pollution peaks suggest that local metal production could have a much longer tradition than commonly believed; however, archaeological or written evidence is scarce or lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leona Bohdálková
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic; Global Change Research Institute, AS CR, Belidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Bohdálek
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Břízová
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pacherová
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Antonín Kuběna
- Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203/8, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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9
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Longman J, Veres D, Finsinger W, Ersek V. Exceptionally high levels of lead pollution in the Balkans from the Early Bronze Age to the Industrial Revolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E5661-E5668. [PMID: 29844161 PMCID: PMC6016796 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1721546115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Balkans are considered the birthplace of mineral resource exploitation and metalworking in Europe. However, since knowledge of the timing and extent of metallurgy in southeastern Europe is largely constrained by discontinuous archaeological findings, the long-term environmental impact of past mineral resource exploitation is not fully understood. Here, we present a high-resolution and continuous geochemical record from a peat bog in western Serbia, providing a clear indication of the extent and magnitude of environmental pollution in this region, and a context in which to place archaeological findings. We observe initial evidence of anthropogenic lead (Pb) pollution during the earliest part of the Bronze Age [∼3,600 years before Common Era (BCE)], the earliest such evidence documented in European environmental records. A steady, almost linear increase in Pb concentration after 600 BCE, until ∼1,600 CE is observed, documenting the development in both sophistication and extent of southeastern European metallurgical activity throughout Antiquity and the medieval period. This provides an alternative view on the history of mineral exploitation in Europe, with metal-related pollution not ceasing at the fall of the western Roman Empire, as was the case in western Europe. Further comparison with other Pb pollution records indicates the amount of Pb deposited in the Balkans during the medieval period was, if not greater, at least similar to records located close to western European mining regions, suggestive of the key role the Balkans have played in mineral resource exploitation in Europe over the last 5,600 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Longman
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, NE1 8ST Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom;
| | - Daniel Veres
- Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Walter Finsinger
- Palaeoecology - ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, F34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Vasile Ersek
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, NE1 8ST Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
- Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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10
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Quantitative assessment of Pb sources in isotopic mixtures using a Bayesian mixing model. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6154. [PMID: 29670142 PMCID: PMC5906678 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24474-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lead (Pb) isotopes provide valuable insights into the origin of Pb within a sample, typically allowing for reliable fingerprinting of their source. This is useful for a variety of applications, from tracing sources of pollution-related Pb, to the origins of Pb in archaeological artefacts. However, current approaches investigate source proportions via graphical means, or simple mixing models. As such, an approach, which quantitatively assesses source proportions and fingerprints the signature of analysed Pb, especially for larger numbers of sources, would be valuable. Here we use an advanced Bayesian isotope mixing model for three such applications: tracing dust sources in pre-anthropogenic environmental samples, tracking changing ore exploitation during the Roman period, and identifying the source of Pb in a Roman-age mining artefact. These examples indicate this approach can understand changing Pb sources deposited during both pre-anthropogenic times, when natural cycling of Pb dominated, and the Roman period, one marked by significant anthropogenic pollution. Our archaeometric investigation indicates clear input of Pb from Romanian ores previously speculated, but not proven, to have been the Pb source. Our approach can be applied to a range of disciplines, providing a new method for robustly tracing sources of Pb observed within a variety of environments.
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11
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Mariussen E, Johnsen IV, Strømseng AE. Distribution and mobility of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and antimony (Sb) from ammunition residues on shooting ranges for small arms located on mires. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:10182-10196. [PMID: 28265871 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
An environmental survey was performed on shooting ranges for small arms located on minerotrophic mires. The highest mean concentrations of Pb (13 g/kg), Cu (5.2 g/kg), Zn (1.1 g/kg), and Sb (0.83 g/kg) in the top soil were from a range located on a poor minerotrophic and acidic mire. This range had also the highest concentrations of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Sb in discharge water (0.18 mg/L Pb, 0.42 mg/L Cu, 0.63 mg/L Zn, and 65 μg/L Sb) and subsurface soil water (2.5 mg/L Pb, 0.9 mg/L Cu, 1.6 mg/L Zn, and 0.15 mg/L Sb). No clear differences in the discharge of ammunition residues between the mires were observed based on the characteristics of the mires. In surface water with high pH (pH ~7), there was a trend with high concentrations of Sb and lower relative concentrations of Cu and Pb. The relatively low concentrations of ammunition residues both in the soil and soil water, 20 cm below the top soil, indicates limited vertical migration in the soil. Channels in the mires, made by plant roots or soil layer of less decomposed materials, may increase the rate of transport of contaminated surface water into deeper soil layers and ground water. A large portion of both Cu and Sb were associated to the oxidizable components in the peat, which may imply that these elements form inner-sphere complexes with organic matter. The largest portion of Pb and Zn were associated with the exchangeable and pH-sensitive components in the peat, which may imply that these elements form outer-sphere complexes with the peat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen Mariussen
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), Protection and Societal Security Division, PO Box 25, 2027, Kjeller, Norway.
| | - Ida Vaa Johnsen
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), Protection and Societal Security Division, PO Box 25, 2027, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Arnljot Einride Strømseng
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), Protection and Societal Security Division, PO Box 25, 2027, Kjeller, Norway
- The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, P.O. Box 5091, Majorstua, 0301, Oslo, Norway
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Szkokan‐Emilson EJ, Kielstra BW, Arnott SE, Watmough SA, Gunn JM, Tanentzap AJ. Dry conditions disrupt terrestrial-aquatic linkages in northern catchments. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:117-126. [PMID: 27197025 PMCID: PMC6849552 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems depend on terrestrial organic matter (tOM) to regulate many functions, such as food web production and water quality, but an increasing frequency and intensity of drought across northern ecosystems is threatening to disrupt this important connection. Dry conditions reduce tOM export and can also oxidize wetland soils and release stored contaminants into stream flow after rainfall. Here, we test whether these disruptions to terrestrial-aquatic linkages occur during mild summer drought and whether this affects biota across 43 littoral zone sites in 11 lakes. We use copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) as representative contaminants, and measure abundances of Hyalella azteca, a widespread indicator of ecosystem condition and food web production. We found that tOM concentrations were reduced but correlations with organic soils (wetlands and riparian forests) persisted during mild drought and were sufficient to suppress labile Cu concentrations. Wetlands, however, also became a source of labile Ni to littoral zones, which was linked to reduced abundances of the amphipod H. azteca, on average by up to 70 times across the range of observed Ni concentrations. This reveals a duality in the functional linkage of organic soils to aquatic ecosystems whereby they can help buffer the effects of hydrologic disconnection between catchments and lakes but at the cost of biogeochemical changes that release stored contaminants. As evidence of the toxicity of trace contaminant concentrations and their global dispersion grows, sustaining links among forests, organic soils and aquatic ecosystems in a changing climate will become increasingly important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J. Szkokan‐Emilson
- Ecosystems and Global Change GroupDepartment of Plant SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 3EAUK
| | | | | | - Shaun A. Watmough
- School of the EnvironmentTrent UniversityPeterboroughONK9L OG2Canada
| | - John M. Gunn
- Vale Living with Lakes CentreLaurentian UniversitySudburyONP3E 2C6Canada
| | - Andrew J. Tanentzap
- Ecosystems and Global Change GroupDepartment of Plant SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 3EAUK
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13
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Shotyk W, Rausch N, Nieminen TM, Ukonmaanaho L, Krachler M. Isotopic Composition of Pb in Peat and Porewaters from Three Contrasting Ombrotrophic Bogs in Finland: Evidence of Chemical Diagenesis in Response to Acidification. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:9943-9951. [PMID: 27536961 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The isotopic composition of Pb was determined in Finnish peat bogs and their porewaters from Harjavalta (HAR, near a Cu-Ni smelter), Outokumpu (OUT, near a Cu-Ni mine), and Hietajärvi (HIJ, a background site). At HIJ and OUT, the porewaters yielded similar concentrations (0.1-0.7 μg/L) and isotopic composition ((206)Pb/(207)Pb = 1.154-1.164). In contrast, the peat profile from HAR yielded greater concentrations of Pb in the porewaters (average 2.4 μg/L), and the Pb is less radiogenic ((206)Pb/(207)Pb = 1.121-1.149). Acidification of the bog surface waters to pH 3.5 by SO2 emitted from smelting (compared to pH 4.0 at the control site) apparently promotes the dissolution of Pb-bearing aerosols, as well as desorption of metals from the surfaces of these particles and from the peat matrix. Despite this, the chronology of anthropogenic, atmospheric deposition for the past millenium recorded by the isotopic composition of Pb in all three peat bogs is remarkably similar. While the immobility of Pb in the peat cores may appear inconsistent with the elevated porewater Pb concentrations, Pb concentrations in the aqueous phase never amount to more than 0.01% of the total Pb at any given depth so that the potential for migration remains small. The low rates of vertical water movement in bogs generally combined with the size of the metal-containing particles in solution may be additional factors limiting Pb mobilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Shotyk
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Nicole Rausch
- University of Heidelberg , Institute of Environmental Geochemistry, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tiina M Nieminen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) , Box 18, FI-01301 Vantaa, Finland
| | - Liisa Ukonmaanaho
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) , Box 18, FI-01301 Vantaa, Finland
| | - Michael Krachler
- European Commission , Joint Research Centre, Directorate Nuclear Safety and Security, P.O. Box 2340, 76125 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Drexler JZ, Alpers CN, Neymark LA, Paces JB, Taylor HE, Fuller CC. A millennial-scale record of Pb and Hg contamination in peatlands of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 551-552:738-51. [PMID: 26918488 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we provide the first record of millennial patterns of Pb and Hg concentrations on the west coast of the United States. Peat cores were collected from two micro-tidal marshes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California. Core samples were analyzed for Pb, Hg, and Ti concentrations and dated using radiocarbon and (210)Pb. Pre-anthropogenic concentrations of Pb and Hg in peat ranged from 0.60 to 13.0μgg(-1)and from 6.9 to 71ngg(-1), respectively. For much of the past 6000+ years, the Delta was free from anthropogenic pollution, however, beginning in ~1425CE, Hg and Pb concentrations, Pb/Ti ratios, Pb enrichment factors (EFs), and HgEFs all increased. Pb isotope compositions of the peat suggest that this uptick was likely caused by smelting activities originating in Asia. The next increases in Pb and Hg contamination occurred during the California Gold Rush (beginning ~1850CE), when concentrations reached their highest levels (74μgg(-1) Pb, 990ngg(-1) Hg; PbEF=12 and HgEF=28). Lead concentrations increased again beginning in the ~1920s with the incorporation of Pb additives in gasoline. The phase-out of lead additives in the late 1980s was reflected in changes in Pb isotope ratios and reductions in Pb concentrations in the surface layers of the peat. The rise and subsequent fall of Hg contamination was also tracked by the peat archive, with the highest Hg concentrations occurring just before 1963CE and then decreasing during the post-1963 period. Overall, the results show that the Delta was a pristine region for most of its ~6700-year existence; however, since ~1425CE, it has received Pb and Hg contamination from both global and regional sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Z Drexler
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819-6129, United States.
| | - Charles N Alpers
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819-6129, United States.
| | - Leonid A Neymark
- U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS963, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, United States.
| | - James B Paces
- U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS963, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, United States.
| | - Howard E Taylor
- U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303, United States.
| | - Christopher C Fuller
- U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS465, Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States.
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Mikutta C, Rothwell JJ. Peat Bogs as Hotspots for Organoarsenical Formation and Persistence. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:4314-4323. [PMID: 27034028 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Peatlands have received significant atmospheric inputs of As and S since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, but the effect of S deposition on the fate of As is largely unknown. It may encompass the formation of As sulfides and organosulfur-bound As, or the indirect stimulation of As biotransformation processes, which are presently not considered as important As immobilization pathways in wetlands. To investigate the immobilization mechanisms of anthropogenically derived As in peatlands subjected to long-term atmospheric pollution, we explored the solid-phase speciation of As, Fe, and S in English peat bogs by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, we analyzed the speciation of As in pore- and streamwaters. Linear combination fits of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data imply that 62-100% (average: 82%) of solid-phase As (Astot: 9-92 mg/kg) was present as organic As(V) and As(III). In agreement with appreciable concentrations of organoarsenicals in surface waters (pH: 4.0-4.4, Eh: 165-190 mV, average Astot: 1.5-129 μg/L), our findings reveal extensive biotransformation of atmospheric As and the enrichment of organoarsenicals in the peat, suggesting that the importance of organometal(loid)s in wetlands subjected to prolonged air pollution is higher than previously assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Mikutta
- Section for Environmental Chemistry and Physics, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen , DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
- Soil Chemistry Group, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, CHN, ETH Zurich , 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - James J Rothwell
- Upland Environments Research Unit, Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, The University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
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Souter L, Watmough SA. The impact of drought and air pollution on metal profiles in peat cores. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 541:1031-1040. [PMID: 26473705 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Peat cores have long been used to reconstruct atmospheric metal deposition; however, debate remains regarding how well historical depositional patterns are preserved in peat. This study examined peat cores sampled from 14 peatlands in the Sudbury region of Ontario, Canada, which has a well-documented history of acid and metal deposition. Copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) concentrations within individual peat cores were strongly correlated and were elevated in the upper 10 cm, especially in the sites closest to the main Copper Cliff smelter. In contrast, nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) concentrations were often elevated at depths greater than 10 cm, indicating much greater post-depositional movement of these metals compared with Cu and Pb. Post-depositional movement of metals is supported by the observation that Ni and Co concentrations in peat pore water increased by approximately 530 and 960% for Ni and Co, respectively between spring and summer due to drought-induced acidification, but there was much less change in Cu concentration. Sphagnum cover and (210)Pb activity measured at 10 cm at the 14 sites significantly increased with distance from Copper Cliff, and the surface peat von Post score decreased with distance from Copper Cliff, indicating the rate of peat formation increases with distance from Sudbury presumably as a result of improved Sphagnum survival. This study shows that the ability of peat to preserve deposition histories of some metals is strongly affected by drought-induced post-depositional movement and that loss of Sphagnum due to air pollution impairs the rate of peat formation, further affecting metal profiles in peatlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Souter
- Environmental and Life Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Shaun A Watmough
- Environmental Resource Studies Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada.
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17
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McIlwaine R, Cox SF, Doherty R, Palmer S, Ofterdinger U, McKinley JM. Comparison of methods used to calculate typical threshold values for potentially toxic elements in soil. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2014; 36:953-971. [PMID: 24760621 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-014-9611-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The environmental quality of land can be assessed by calculating relevant threshold values, which differentiate between concentrations of elements resulting from geogenic and diffuse anthropogenic sources and concentrations generated by point sources of elements. A simple process allowing the calculation of these typical threshold values (TTVs) was applied across a region of highly complex geology (Northern Ireland) to six elements of interest; arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and vanadium. Three methods for identifying domains (areas where a readily identifiable factor can be shown to control the concentration of an element) were used: k-means cluster analysis, boxplots and empirical cumulative distribution functions (ECDF). The ECDF method was most efficient at determining areas of both elevated and reduced concentrations and was used to identify domains in this investigation. Two statistical methods for calculating normal background concentrations (NBCs) and upper limits of geochemical baseline variation (ULBLs), currently used in conjunction with legislative regimes in the UK and Finland respectively, were applied within each domain. The NBC methodology was constructed to run within a specific legislative framework, and its use on this soil geochemical data set was influenced by the presence of skewed distributions and outliers. In contrast, the ULBL methodology was found to calculate more appropriate TTVs that were generally more conservative than the NBCs. TTVs indicate what a "typical" concentration of an element would be within a defined geographical area and should be considered alongside the risk that each of the elements pose in these areas to determine potential risk to receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka McIlwaine
- Environmental Engineering Research Centre, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5AG, UK,
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18
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Szkokan-Emilson EJ, Watmough SA, Gunn JM. Wetlands as long-term sources of metals to receiving waters in mining-impacted landscapes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2014; 192:91-103. [PMID: 24905257 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Revised: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Wetlands are prevalent in the Sudbury, Ontario region and often operate at the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, modifying water chemistry and potentially affecting the recovery of impacted lakes. The deposition of metals and sulphur in Sudbury in 2010-2012 was far below that reported in the 1970's, but still higher than background values. Wetlands in the area have accumulated large quantities of metals, and high concentrations of these metals in streams occurred primarily in response to SO4-related acidification events or associated with high dissolved organic carbon production in early summer. Concentrations of most metals in streams exceeded provincial guidelines and fluxes of some metals from catchments exceeded deposition inputs to lakes by as much as 12 times. The release of metals long after emissions reductions have been achieved must be considered in ecosystem recovery studies, particularly as dry conditions may become more prevalent in boreal regions affected by mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Szkokan-Emilson
- Living With Lakes Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada.
| | - S A Watmough
- Environmental Resource Science, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - J M Gunn
- Living With Lakes Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
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Allan M, Le Roux G, De Vleeschouwer F, Bindler R, Blaauw M, Piotrowska N, Sikorski J, Fagel N. High-resolution reconstruction of atmospheric deposition of trace metals and metalloids since AD 1400 recorded by ombrotrophic peat cores in Hautes-Fagnes, Belgium. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2013; 178:381-394. [PMID: 23619507 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The objective of our study was to determine the trace metal accumulation rates in the Misten bog, Hautes-Fagnes, Belgium, and assess these in relation to established histories of atmospheric emissions from anthropogenic sources. To address these aims we analyzed trace metals and metalloids (Pb, Cu, Ni, As, Sb, Cr, Co, V, Cd and Zn), as well as Pb isotopes, using XRF, Q-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS, respectively in two 40-cm peat sections, spanning the last 600 yr. The temporal increase of metal fluxes from the inception of the Industrial Revolution to the present varies by a factor of 5-50, with peak values found between AD 1930 and 1990. A cluster analysis combined with Pb isotopic composition allows the identification of the main sources of Pb and by inference of the other metals, which indicates that coal consumption and metallurgical activities were the predominant sources of pollution during the last 600 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Allan
- AGEs, Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août, B18 Sart Tilman B-4000, Liège, Belgium.
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Muller FLL, Tankéré-Muller SPC. Seasonal variations in surface water chemistry at disturbed and pristine peatland sites in the Flow Country of northern Scotland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 435-436:351-362. [PMID: 22863811 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Weekly monitoring of surface water chemistry took place over a one-year period in a small boggy sub-catchment of the River Thurso, northern Scotland. Monitoring started 6 months after the felling to waste of plantation conifers. The chemistry of ground surface waters was monitored at four bog sites situated in former forestry plots as well as one control site situated in an intact bog. The chemistry of the receiving stream (Sleach Water) was monitored at seven points along a 2 km stretch. Dissolved organic carbon and metals were very significantly affected by seasonal factors. On land, seasonal variations accounted for between 35% (Al) and 80% (Fe) of the total variance in the data at the intact bog site, with similar seasonal effects observed at the impacted sites. The amplitude of the seasonal signal was generally much higher at the impacted sites than at the control site. Except for dissolved Al and Mn, the chemical composition of the stream was only marginally influenced by surface runoff from the felled plantation despite evidence of intense seasonal mobilisation of e.g. DOC, K or Fe at or near the ground surface within the felled plots. This was attributed to the presence of a buffer zone between the plantation and the stream. On the other hand, surface inputs from former forestry plots caused measurable increases in stream water [Al] and [Mn]. The likely sources of Al and Mn were the disturbance of the mineral soil that had taken place some 20 years previously as a result of forestry ground preparation and the leaching from the recently felled conifer material, respectively. Such inputs occurred in late autumn or winter for Al and in summer for Mn, thus intensifying their natural seasonal patterns in this peat draining stream.
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Affiliation(s)
- François L L Muller
- Environmental Research Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso KW14 7JD, UK.
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