A test of the integrity of metal records in sediment cores based on the documented history of metal contamination in Lac Dufault (Québec, Canada)

There is an important volume of published information on Lac Dufault (Québec) which describes the history of metal inputs over 70 years and the changes that occurred in the lake as a result of this contamination. We used this abundant source of chronological markers to test the hypothesis that lake sediments can provide true historical records of trace metal loading from metal mining. Sediment cores were obtained from the deepest zone of the lake (19 m). The sediments were dated using ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs and they were analyzed for total elemental concentrations (Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, P, Pb, S, Zn). Metal profiles in the sediment core preserved the distinct signatures of different mine exploitations documented in the lake watershed. In particular, the core recorded: the beginning of industrialization in 1926; increasing sedimentation rates associated with perturbations in the lake watershed; the maximum of sediment [Cu] and the contemporary exploitation of ore bodies rich in Cu; the maximum of sediment [Fe] and the contemporary production of pyrite by a mining operation; the low sediment [Cu] and [Zn] in the 1950s and the low contemporary production of these metals by mining operations; the maximum of sediment [Cd] and the contemporary production of Cd by a subsequent mining operation. Anomalies in the distribution of ²¹⁴Pb activities in sediments reflected the intensity of acid mine drainage (AMD). There is good evidence that the lake resisted acidification from this AMD for the last thirty years. Overall, our results support the thesis that profiles of sedimentary Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe levels reflect the past history of metal input to Lac Dufault.     

Heavy metal pollution and lake acidity changes caused by one thousand years of copper mining at Falun, central Sweden

One thousand years of mining of sulfurous ores at the Falun copper mine, central Sweden, and the resulting atmospheric emissions of metals and sulfur dioxide, gives a unique opportunity to study long-term responses to acid deposition. Copper production peaked in the 17^th century, when Falun supplied 2/3 of the world's copper production. Thereafter production and associated emissions have declined, and the mine was closed in the 1990's. Sediment cores from 14 lakes situated between 3-27 km from the mine have been analyzed for Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, S and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb isotope ratios to study the historical and geographical distribution of airborne pollutants. Diatoms have been analyzed to infer past lake acidity and to assess whether lake acidification has occurred and, if so, whether any recovery from acidification has occurred following the reduction in sulfur emissions. Eight of the fourteen lakes have acidified, beginning as early as the late 17^th century, when the estimated annual emissions of SO₂ amounted to 40,000 tons. This is perhaps the earliest known record of anthropogenic lake acidification. Despite the large historical deposition of sulfur, the pH has only decreased by 0.4–0.8 units, with the lowest diatom-inferred pH being 5.8. Effects of agriculture and forestry following the expanding mining industry may have counteracted acidification. Despite the 300 yrs of lowered emissions the diatom record shows no recovery in pH. There are still large amounts of sulfur accumulated in the soils in the area that may delay recovery from lake acidification. Afforestation in the area over the last 100 yrs may also play an important role in delaying the recovery process.     

Historical trace metal loading to a large river recorded in the sediments of Lake St. Croix,USA

The global cycling of anthropogenic trace metals intensified during the twentieth century, impacting aquatic systems throughout the world. There are, however, few quantitative records showing the history of this contamination in large rivers. Here we present a well-dated sedimentary record of trace metal accumulation in Lake St. Croix, a natural riverine lake on the St. Croix River (Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA), revealing the history of heavy metal inputs to the river over the past 200 years. Concentrations of Hg, Pb, Ag, Cd, Cr and Zn and stable Pb isotopes were measured in eight ²¹⁰Pb-dated sediment cores collected from profundal depositional areas throughout the lake. Time trends of trace metal concentrations and accumulation rates differed greatly between the upper lake (above Valley Creek) and the lower lake, reflecting contrasting sediment sources along the flow axis of the lake. For most of the study period (1800–2000 AD), sediment deposited throughout the lake derived almost exclusively from the suspended sediment load carried by the main-stem river into the lake. From 1910 through 1970, however, large inputs of eroded soils and stream channel sediments from side-valley tributaries resulted in greatly increased sediment and trace metal accumulation in the lower lake. Anthropogenic accumulation rates of Hg, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ag in the upper lake correlate well with those from Square Lake, a small, relatively undisturbed nearby lake that has received trace metal inputs almost exclusively via atmospheric deposition. The similarity of these records suggests that atmospheric deposition was primarily responsible for trace metal accumulation trends in upper Lake St. Croix. Trace metal accumulation in the lower lake was also strongly influenced by atmospherically derived inputs, but metal contributions from native soils were important, as well, during the period of elevated sediment inputs from side-valley tributaries. Concentrations and accumulation rates of trace metals in both upper and lower lake sediments have decreased substantially since the 1970s due to decreased atmospheric inputs and sediment loadings, but accumulation rates remain well above pre-settlement values. Metal inputs to Lake St. Croix have been far lower than those to nearby Lake Pepin, located on the Mississippi River downstream of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, but there nevertheless remains a clear record of anthropogenic impact on the relatively pristine St. Croix River.     

Historical trends of mercury and spheroidal carbonaceous particle deposition in sub-alpine lakes in the Great Basin,United States

The geochemistry of lake sediments was used to identify anthropogenic factors influencing aquatic ecosystems of sub-alpine lakes in the western United States during the past century. Sediment cores were recovered from six high-elevation lakes in the central Great Basin of the United States. The proxies utilized to examine the degree of recent anthropogenic environmental change include spheroidal carbonaceous particle (SCP), mercury (Hg), and sediment organic content estimated using loss-on-ignition. Chronologies for the sediment cores, developed using ²¹⁰Pb, indicate the cores span the twentieth century. Mercury flux varied between lakes but all exhibited increasing fluxes during the mid-twentieth century. The mean ratio of modern (post-A.D. 1985) to preindustrial (pre-A.D. 1880) Hg flux was 5.2, which is comparable to the results from previous studies conducted in western North America. Peak SCP flux for all lakes occurred between approximately A.D. 1940 and A.D. 1970, after which time the SCP flux was greatly reduced. The reduction in SCP input is likely due to better controls on combustion sources. Measured Hg concentrations and calculated sedimentation rates suggest atmospheric Hg flux increased in the early 1900s, from A.D. 1920 to A.D. 1990, and at present. Atmospheric deposition is the primary source of the anthropogenic inputs of Hg and SCPs to these high elevation lakes. The input of SCPs, which is largely driven by regional sources, has declined with the implementation of national pollution control regulations. Mercury deposition in the Great Basin has most likely been influenced more by regional inputs.     

Recent heavy metal accumulation in Dongjiu and Xijiu lakes,East China

Taihu Lake has been recognized as a seriously contaminated waterbody with regard to Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn over the last two decades. The input of pollutants has increased due to economic and social development and population increase. Seventy percent of the pollutants in Taihu Lake comes from rivers, with the Yili River being a major source of pollutants. Lakes Xijiu and Dongjiu are connected to the Yili River and Taihu Lake and are sites where material is preferentially deposited because of hydrodynamic conditions. Sediment cores were collected from Xijiu Lake (core XJ-1) and Dongjiu Lake (core DJ-5) to investigate anthropogenic heavy metal contamination. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn gradually increased since the late 1930s, peaked in 1970, and then dropped slightly. A sudden increase in concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn occurred in 1991 and peaked again in 1996, then dropped markedly. Maximum concentration of Cd in core XJ-1 was 21.2 mg kg⁻¹ and mean concentration was 12.1 mg kg⁻¹. In core DJ-5, the maximum and mean concentrations were 6.9 and 5.4 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Cr showed a pattern of variation different from the other heavy metals, but its concentration also dropped after peaking in 1996. Enrichment factors and anthropogenic factors revealed that human activities in the catchment played a key role in the heavy metal contamination. Increases in Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentration were caused by industrial development, particularly from non-ferrous metal smelting industries. The recent drop in Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations is attributed to pollution reduction measures instituted by the government. Cr was influenced by both natural and anthropogenic processes.     

东莞市农田土壤和蔬菜重金属的含量特征分析

从东莞市采集118 个农田土壤样品和43 个蔬菜样品, 测试其中Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、Pb、 Cd、As 和Hg 等8 种重金属元素的含量, 并结合GIS 制图和数据统计, 对农田土壤中重金属 的空间分布和来源、土壤和蔬菜中重金属的富集特征及其潜在风险进行了分析。结果表明, 农田土壤中Cu、Zn、Ni、Pb、Cd 和Hg 等元素含量均高于相应元素的广东省土壤背景值, 其中, Pb (65.38 mg kg^-1) 和Hg (0.24 mg kg^-1) 含量分别为其对应背景值的1.82 和2.82 倍。与我国《土壤环境质量标准》中II 级标准(pH < 6.5) 相比, 土壤中Cu、Ni、Cd 和Hg 含量样本超标率分别为3.4%、5.9%、1.7%和28%, 表现为以Hg 为主的多种重金属共同污染。土壤 中8 种重金属中Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr 和As 等元素主要来源于成土母质, Pb、Hg 和Cd 等元素主要与人类活动有关。空间分布上, Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、Pb、As 和Hg 等7 种重金属含量呈现出西部高、东部低的特点, Cd 含量在西北部和东南部较高, 西南部较低。与《食品中污染物限量》(GB2762-2005) 等相关标准比较, 蔬菜中Ni、Pb 和As 含量的样本超标率分别为4.7%、16.3%和48.8%。蔬菜中重金属富集系数的顺序为: Cd > Zn > Cu > As > Ni > Hg > Cr > Pb。     

Paleolimnological reconstructions of Rouyn-Noranda lakes within the zone of influence of the Horne Smelter,Québec,Canada

Diatoms were identified and enumerated from a surface sediment calibration set of 50 lakes in northwestern Québec. The relationship between species composition and environmental variables was examined using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Forward selection and Monte Carlo permutation tests in CCA indicated that diatom species distributions in the data set are most strongly correlated to lakewater pH. A strong (r ² _boot = 0.83) weighted averaging calibration model, that includes bootstrapped error estimates, was developed for inferring past lakewater pH. Using this model, temporal changes in pH were reconstructed for two kettle lakes, Lac de la Pépinière and Lac Perron. Based on limnological data, both the study lakes were expected to have recently acidified due to increased acidic precipitation and increases in anthropogenic metal loading. However, our long-term pH inference data indicate that these lakes were naturally acidic during pre-industrial times. Nonetheless, the rate of acidification, particularly in Lac de la Pépinière, has accelerated in the last ∼75 years. These long-term pH records developed for the dilute lakes in northwestern Québec suggest that the region has received increased atmospheric pollutants from the nearby Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda. The pH inference profiles are markedly different from many other paleolimnological studies in acid-sensitive regions of Canada that have become acidic primarily as a result of industrial activities. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

东莞市农田土壤和蔬菜重金属含量分析(英文)

A total of 118 of agricultural soil and 43 of vegetable samples were collected from Dongguan City,Guangdong,China. The spatial distribution,sources,accumulation charac-teristics and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were de-picted in details by three different approaches,including total contents of eight metal ele-ments in soils and vegetables,GIS maps and multivariate analysis of heavy metals in soils in the study. The results show that there are higher accumulation of heavy metals such as Cu,Zn,Ni,Pb,Cd and Hg in agricultural soils,and the contents of Pb (65.38 mg kg-1) and Hg (0.24 mg kg-1) are 1.82 and 2.82 times of the background contents of the corresponding heavy metals in soils of Guangdong Province,respectively. There are about 3.4% of Cu,5.9% of Ni,1.7% of Cd and 28% of Hg in all collected soil samples from all investigated sites which have overran the contents for heavy metals of the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995,Grade Ⅱ ). The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly reflected by Hg. There are different sources to eight metal elements in soils,Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr and As are predominantly derived from parent materials,and Pb,Hg and Cd are affected by anthropogenic activities. The spatial distribution shows that the Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr,Pb,As and Hg contents of agricultural soils are high in the west and low in the east,and Cd contents are high in the northwest,southeast and low in the southwest in Dongguan. The ratios of vegetable samples which Ni,Pb and As concentrations higher than the Maximum Levels of Con-taminants in Foods (GB2762-2005) are 4.7%,16.3% and 48.8%,respectively. The order of bio-concentration factors (BCF) of heavy metals in vegetables is Cd Zn Cu As Ni Hg Cr Pb. It is necessary to focus on potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and hu-man's health from agricultural soils and vegetables in Dongguan City,Guangdong Province.     

Environmental Change and Atmospheric Contamination on Svalbard: Sediment Chronology

Sediment cores collected from eight lakes along the western coast of Svalbard as part of a project investigating atmospheric pollution and environmental change in Arctic regions were dated radiometrically using natural (²¹⁰Pb) and artificial (¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am) fallout radionuclides. At four sites the sedimentation rates were relatively uniform, and in consequence the ²¹⁰Pb dates were relatively unambiguous. At the remaining sites there were irregularities in the ²¹⁰Pb activity versus depth profiles, indicating significant variations in the net sediment accumulation rate during the past 120 years. At these sites, there were significant differences between ²¹⁰Pb dates calculated using the two standard simple dating models, constant rate of supply (CRS) and constant initial concentration (CIC). In most cases, stratigraphic dates based on the ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am records supported use of the CRS model, though at one site (Ossian Sarsfjellet) the CIC model appeared more appropriate. The irregularities in the ²¹⁰Pb records were mainly caused by episodes of accelerated sedimentation due, for example, to inwash or slump events, though at some sites there appears to have been a systematic increase in sediment accumulation rates in recent decades. Sediment accumulation rates were generally lower at the northern sites, and higher at the more southerly locations. Mean sediment accumulation rates varied by an order of magnitude, ranging from 0.002 to 0.050 g cm⁻² y⁻¹ (0.02–0.10 cm y⁻¹). ²¹⁰Pb fluxes measured from the core inventories were mostly in the range 34–80 Bq m⁻² y⁻¹ typical of Arctic sites. Much higher values, recorded at two sites (Birgervatnet and Daltjørna), may be due to significant inputs from the catchments during spring thaw.     

210Pb and 137Cs dating methods in lakes: A retrospective study

²¹⁰Pb has been used for more than two decades to provide the geochronology of annually deposited sediments and to construct pollution histories. Evidence from some lakes suggests that this radionuclide may be adequately mobile to compromise dating reliability. This study provides one test of that possibility by comparing recent measurements of ²¹⁰Pb and trace metals to ones carried out more than 20 yrs in the past. ¹³⁷Cs dating is used to confirm sediment accumulation rates in the recent cores. In the three Connecticut, USA, lakes studied, sediment accumulation rates changed abruptly to higher values between 40-50 yrs ago (increasing by factors of 2.2, 2.9, and 3.0). In all three lakes, rates calculated from ²¹⁰Pb distributions both above and below this horizon agreed, within measurement uncertainty, in recent and older cores. Furthermore, when the older data were corrected for 20 yrs of burial, the changes in slope in ²¹⁰Pb distributions occurred at the same depth in each pair of cores. The depth of sharp peaks in concentrations of trace metals also matched. In general, this evidence supports the idea that sediments in these lakes have simply been buried, without significant diagenetic remobilization of ²¹⁰Pb and trace metals . Nevertheless, some important differences were also observed. For two of the three lakes, there was a significant difference in average sediment accumulation rate during the past 33 yrs as calculated from ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb in the recent cores. Most potential causes for this difference can be ruled out, and it appears that one of the two nuclides is remobilized compared to the other. There were also significant differences in the total inventories of both ²¹⁰Pb and trace metals (both up to 2 ×) between recent and older cores in some cases. This may be due to dissimilar sediment focusing, since it is not known for certain whether the new cores were collected at exactly the same sites as in the past.     

Stratigraphy of total metals in PIRLA sediment cores

Sediment cores from 30 low-alkalinity lakes in northern New England (NE), New York (NY), the northern Great Lakes States (NGLS) of Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and Florida (FL) have been dated by ²¹⁰Pb and analyzed for water and organic content, eight major elements (Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na, K) plus four trace metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, and V). Variations in the percentages of major elements through time are dominated by long-term independent variations in the abundance of SiO₂, FeO, and to a lesser extent Ca and Al. Additional variations are caused by varying proportions of inorganic matter. Major variations in chemistry are generally unrelated to documented distrubances in the watersheds; most disturbances are minor fires or selective logging.Accelerated accumulation of Pb from atmospheric sources into sediment first occurs in sediment dated between 1800 and 1850 in NY and NE, slightly later in the NGLS region, and about 1900 in FL. Modern accumulation rates in all areas are comparable (ca. 1 to 4 g cm^–2 yr^–1). Accumulation rates of Pb in some lakes have declined significantly from 1975 to 1985. Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic Zn and Cu is also indicated by generally increasing accumulation rates in sediment cores, but the record is not as clear nor are chemical profiles in all lakes parallel to the trends in atmospheric emissions inferred on the basis of fossil fuel consumption, smelting, and other industrial activities. Inter-lake variations in profiles of Cu and Zn are large. Vanadium accumulation rates increase by the 1940s in NY and NE, but not until the 1950s in the NGLS region. This timing correlates with regional trends in the combustion of fuel oil, a major source of atmospheric V.Acidification of some of the lakes is suggested by decreases in the concentration and accumulation rates of Mn, Ca, and Zn in recent sediment, relative to other elements of catchment origin. The decreases generally occur slightly before the onset of acidification as indicated by diatoms. Increased sediment accumulation rates for Fe may indicate the acidification of watershed soils. The use of the accumulation rate of TiO₂ as an indicator of rates of erosion and for normalization of trace metal accumulation rates is in question for lakes where the flux of TiO₂ from the atmosphere varies and is a significant fraction of the total flux of TiO₂ to the sediment.This is the thirteenth of a series of papers to be published by this journal which is a contribution of the Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification (PIRLA) project. Drs. D. F. Charles and D. R. Whitehead are guest editors for this series.     

乌鲁木齐市近几年大气颗粒物中重金属的浓度特征

采用重量法对2014年、2015年、2017年采暖期乌鲁木齐市新疆农业大学大气颗粒物TSP、PM₁₀、PM_2.5进行采集,使用TAS-990型火焰原子吸收分光光度计、PF3型原子荧光光谱仪、石墨炉原子吸收分光光度计测定颗粒物中5种重金属元素的质量浓度,利用富集因子法分析重金属元素的富集程度及来源。结果表明：该采样点采暖期大气颗粒物TSP、PM₁₀的质量浓度在近几年均呈现出下降趋势,PM_2.5的质量浓度变化趋势为：2017年＞2015年＞2014年;重金属元素As的质量浓度在不同粒径大气颗粒物中均为最高值,且采暖期大气颗粒物中除Cr以外的重金属含量、重金属元素的富集程度近几年均呈现明显的下降趋势;重金属As、Cr、Zn、Hg元素更易富集于细颗粒物中。     

How reliable is the210Pb dating method? Old and new results from Switzerland

We present a historical overview of applications of²¹⁰Pb dating in Switzerland with a special emphasis on the work performed at the University of Bern. It is demonstrated that the average specific activity of²¹⁰Pb in the lower atmosphere is very constant and does not show seasonal variations. We then concentrate on new results from Lobsigensee, a very small lake, and on published and new data from Lake Zurich. Several²¹⁰Pb profiles from these lakes show obvious disturbances and a disagreement of the resulting sedimentation rate when compared to that for the 23 years defined by¹³⁷Cs peaks of 1986 (Chernobyl) and 1963 (bomb fallout).A mean sedimentation rate of about 0.14 g cm^–2 y^–1 is found in the oxic and suboxic center part of Lake Zurich. In the oxic locations, the²¹⁰Pb flux to the sediments was close to the atmospheric input of about 1/60 Bq cm^–2 y^–1. In other parts of the lake a significant deficit in the inventory of²¹⁰Pb was found in the sediments. This could be due to a chemical redissolution of²¹⁰Pb together with Mn under reducing conditions. In contrast, in the suboxic part of the lake (135 m depth) the flux of²¹⁰Pb was about twice the atmospheric input. This excess is not caused by allochthonous contributions and is tentatively explained by the transport of sediment material resulting from small slides at the very steep lake shores or more probably by reprecipitation of²¹⁰Pb together with Mn when the conditions in the lake water become locally and seasonally more oxidizing. Dissolved²¹⁰Pb may migrate from locations with reducing conditions and reprecipitate under more oxic conditions. Indeed, a correlation of Mn and²¹⁰Pb in sediments of Lake Zurich was found.This is the first of a series of papers to be published by this journal following the 20^th anniversary of the first application of²¹⁰Pb dating of lake sediments. Dr P. G. Appleby is guest editing this series.     

Low-background gamma counting: applications for210Pb dating of sediments

Sediment cores from three lakes were dated with²¹⁰Pb using a constant rate of supply (CRS) model. We used low-background gamma counting to measure naturally occurring levels of²¹⁰Pb,²²⁶Ra, and¹³⁷Cs in sediment samples because sample preparation is simple and non-destructive,²²⁶Ra activity provides a direct measure of supported²¹⁰Pb activity for each sample analyzed, and¹³⁷Cs activity may provide an independent age marker for the 1962–1963 peak in atmospheric fallout of this radionuclide. In one core supported²¹⁰Pb activity was estimated equally well from²²⁶Ra activity of each sampling interval or from the mean total²¹⁰Pb activity of constant activity samples at depth. Supported²¹⁰Pb activity was constant with depth in this core. In a short freeze core, determining²²⁶Ra activity of every sample proved advantageous in estimating supported²¹⁰Pb activity because supported²¹⁰Pb activity could be estimated from²¹⁰Pb measurements only at the deepest sampling interval. Supported²¹⁰Pb activity estimated from²²⁶Ra activity also yielded more precise estimates of highly variable sedimentation rates. In the third core²²⁶Ra activity exceeded²¹⁰Pb activity at the top of the core and varied 20 fold with depth. This high input of²²⁶Ra in disequilibrium with²¹⁰Pb is attributed to recent erosion of radium-bearing materials in the drainage basin. These data invalidate the assumption that supported²¹⁰Pb activity is constant in sediment cores and can be estimated from the mean total²¹⁰Pb activity at depths where²¹⁰Pb activity is constant. We recommend using gamma counting or another independent assay of²²⁶Ra to validate the assumption of constant supported²¹⁰Pb activity in sediment cores if there is reason to expect that²²⁶Ra activity varies with depth.This is the fourth of a series of papers to be published by this journal following the 20 ^th anniversary of the first application of²¹⁰Pb dating of lake sediments. Dr. P.G. Appleby is guest editing this series.     

Past atmospheric Pb deposition in Lake Qinghai,northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Two short sediment cores were recovered from sub-basins of Lake Qinghai, China and were analyzed for concentrations of Pb and 16 other elements to determine historic, regional atmospheric Pb deposition on the Tibetan Plateau. Core chronologies, dating back to the eighteenth century, were established using activities of ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs. The 17 elements were divided into three principal components. Variations in concentrations of PC1 elements (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, and Ti) demonstrate different patterns between the two cores, and are attributed to different sediment sources in the two sub-basins. PC2 elements (Ba, Ca, Na, and Sr) may be associated with the degree of catchment weathering and/or water chemistry. Four elements (Pb, Zn, P, and Co) are related to both PC1 and PC2, and reflect a mixture of natural and anthropogenic sources. The PC3 element is Mg in the north sub-basin, and is perhaps related to aragonite precipitation and/or increased farming. Elevated Pb concentrations in uppermost sediments of both cores signify a recent regional/global increase in anthropogenic Pb release into the environment. After subtracting lithogenic Pb, derived from rock weathering and/or dust and normalized to the background immobile element Ti, results suggest that excess, anthropogenic Pb is transferred to the lake and its sediments predominantly via the atmosphere. This anthropogenic atmospheric Pb is comparable in magnitude and displays similar variation patterns in the two cores, reflecting regional atmospheric deposition and local erosion. The average anthropogenic Pb deposition rate in Lake Qinghai since the 1960s has been ~12.2 ± 3.5 mg/m²/a, comparable with atmospheric Pb fluxes reported for sites elsewhere in the northern hemisphere.     

上海市崇明岛农田土壤重金属的环境质量评价(英文)

The environmental quality of heavy metals (Pb,Cd,Cr,As,Hg) in agricultural surface soil of Chongming Island was assessed by national,local and professional standards based on a large scale investigation,in which 28 samples from vegetable plots,65 samples from paddy fields and 9 samples from watermelon fields were collected from whole island area. Results showed that the average concentration of Pb,Cd,Cr,As and Hg was 21.6 mg·kg-1,0.176 mg·kg-1,69.4 mg·kg-1,9.209 mg·kg-1 and 0.128 mg·kg-1,respectively. Compared with the background value of Shanghai City soil,except for Pb and Cr,all the other heavy metals average concentrations in Chongming Island agricultural surface soil exceeded their corresponding natural-background values. The concentrations of Cd,As and Hg were 33.0%,1.2% and 26.3% higher than the background value of Shanghai City,respectively. In addition,inverse distance interpolation (IDW) tool of GIS was also applied to study the spatial variation of heavy metals. The results indicated that most of agricultural soil quality was good,and the ratio of ecological,good soil,certified soil and disqualified soil were 1.26%,97.1%,1.47% and 0.12%,respectively. About 10.1%,85.7%,27.0%,55.4% and 55.2% soil samples exceeded the Pb,Cd,Cr,As and Hg background value of Shanghai City,respectively. Among these three land use type soils,vegetable soil was most seriously polluted by heavy metals,which is probably related to the over-application of pesticides. The annual deposition fluxes of Pb,Cd,As and Hg were 7736 μg.m-2.a-1,208 μg.m-2.a-1,2238 μg.m-2.a-1 and 52.8 μg.m-2.a-1,respectively. Crop straw burning was the important source of heavy metals of atmospheric deposition,and atmospheric deposition contributed a lot to heavy metals in agricultural soil in Chongming Island.     

Interpretation of210Pb profiles and verification of the CRS dating model in PIRLA project lake sediment cores

This paper reports results and analysis of²¹⁰Pb-activity measurements in 51 lake-sediment cores from 32 lakes in the four PIRLA (Paleoecological Investigations of Recent Lake Acidification) project regions (Adirondack Mountains [New York], Northern New England, Northern Florida, and the Northern Great Lakes States). General application of the Constant Rate of Supply (Constant Flux) model for²¹⁰Pb dating is valid for lakes in the PIRLA study, although application of the model is equivocal in a few lakes.²¹⁰Pb inventories and profiles are replicable among closely spaced cores within a lake. Specific²¹⁰Pb activity in surface sediments is negatively correlated with bulk sediment accumulation rate in seepage lakes, but not in drainage lakes. Drainage lakes with lower pH have lower unsupported²¹⁰Pb inventories in sediments, but the relationship does not occur in seepage lakes.²¹⁰Pb profiles in only seven of the cores, all from either the Adirondacks or the northern Great Lakes states, exhibit exponential decay curves. Deviations from an exponential profile include a flattening of the profile in the top few cm or excursions of one or a few measurements away from an exponential curve.²¹⁰Pb dates typically agree with other chronostratigraphic markers, most of which are subject to greater uncertainty. Several hypotheses, including sediment mixing, hydrologic regime, sediment focusing, and acidification, are proposed to explain variation of²¹⁰Pb distribution among lakes and regions. Hydrologic factors exert control on unsupported²¹⁰Pb inventories in PIRLA lakes, and there is a strong focusing effect in drainage lakes but a weak focusing effect in seepage lakes.This is the third of a series of papers to be published by this journal following the 20^th anniversary of the first application of²¹⁰Pb dating of lake sediments. Dr P. G. Appleby is guest editing this series.     

Inland saline lakes of Wadi El Natrun depression, Egypt

The morphology and geochemistry of saline lakes in the Wadi El Natrun depression were studied. All lakes had pH values of 8.5--9.5 and a salinity from 283 to 540 g/L. The main ionic components were sulphate, chloride, carbonate and sodium. Traces of magnesium were also present. The water of the lakes is of the Cl^– to SO ₄ ^2– -Cl^– type. Increased Cl^– in Wadi El Natrun brines can increase metal solubility due to the formation of soluble chloro-complexes of trace elements. The metal concentrations decrease in the order: Pb > Cu > Cd > Ni > Zn > Fe > Mn. The characteristics of Wadi El Natrun saline lakes are compared with those from other saline lakes.     

中国公路交通的重金属排放及其对土地污染的初步估算

本文研究了全国各省市机动车Pb、Cu、Zn、Cd排放总量和公路两侧土壤中Pb含量的分布及其面积。结果表明,东部发达省份机动车的重金属排放量较西部地区大。使用含铅汽油的1990~1996年期间,北京市公路两侧土壤中Pb的年输入量为2.48~3.17 mg/ (kg · a)、累积量为11.4 mg/kg;1997~2003年使用无铅汽油后,两者分别下降到0.26~0.29 mg/(kg · a)和1.30 mg/kg。公路两侧的土壤中Pb含量随垂直距离的外延呈指数形式下降。公路交通对道路两侧土壤产生严重和轻度Pb污染的范围分别为距公路0~10 m和10~65 m。2003年北京市和全国受公路交通Pb污染的土地面积为2310 km²和28900 km²。公路交通的重金属排放是导致我国土地污染的重要原因之一。     

The sedimentary record of environmental lead contamination at St. Louis,Missouri (USA) area smelters

Southeastern Missouri has been a major Pb mining region since 1720 AD. Missouri mines produce a Pb ore that has a distinctive elevated ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb isotopic ratio (>1.30) that is easily recognized in Pb-contaminated sediments. Five ²¹⁰Pb dated sediment cores from Horseshoe Lake, Madison County, Illinois were examined to reconstruct Pb-contamination of the site from southeastern Missouri mines and from a local Pb smelter located adjacent to the lake. Pb concentrations increased in the cores from 5 ppm in the early 1800s to approximately 350 ppm in the late 1940s and 1950s. Pb concentrations in recently deposited sediment range from 100 to 300 ppm depending on the location within the lake. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in the sediment cores increased indicating contamination from southeastern Missouri (mean = 1.243). After the local smelter began recycling lead-acid storage batteries in the 1950s, the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio declined (mean = 1.224) suggesting contamination of Horseshoe Lake with Pb from sources elsewhere around the world. The results of this study demonstrate how isotopic ratios of Pb can be used to reconstruct historical anthropogenic contamination.