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Pelletier N, Chételat J, Sinon S, Vermaire JC. Wildfires trigger multi-decadal increases in sedimentation rate and metal loading to subarctic montane lakes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 824:153738. [PMID: 35151741 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated how two large wildfires affected the sedimentation rate and accumulation of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in sediment of four subarctic montane lakes in the Yukon, Canada. The wildfires occurred 60 and 20 years (1958, 1998) before sediment collection in 2018. Site-specific fire exposure was inferred from the charcoal accumulation histories in the lake sediments and the burned catchment area was determined from historical fire maps. The two major wildfires caused a two to five-fold increase in sedimentation rates and a two to eight-fold increase in sediment metal accumulation rates in Little Fox Lake. The mass accumulation rates of metals in Little Fox Lake sediment increased by a maximum of 2.7-4.7 mg Pb m-2 yr-1, 19-29 μg Hg m-2 yr-1 and 37-114 μg Cd m-2 yr-1 following wildfires. Modelling using elemental ratios of lithogenic sources suggested a large proportion of the Pb and Hg accumulating in post-fire sediment was from remobilized legacy anthropogenic pollution. In contrast, Cd fluxes were consistent with variation in catchment weathering. Impacts of wildfires were visible but more muted in the sediment of Little Braeburn Lake, whereas Fox Lake and Grayling Lake sediments showed little to no wildfire impact and served as a reference for external (long-range) metal deposition. Major changes to lake sediment geochemistry in Little Fox Lake were caused by the lack of vegetation and soil recovery in the catchment following the severe 1998 fire. Wildfire impacts were persistent in the lake more than 20 years after the last fire, with no sign of a return to pre-fire Pb, Hg, and Cd accumulation rates. This study shows that wildfires in northern montane catchments can significantly increase the rate of metal accumulation in affected lakes, thereby impeding recovery from reductions in anthropogenic air emissions of these metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Pelletier
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Sarah Sinon
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Jesse C Vermaire
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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2
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López-Berenguer G, Pérez-García JM, García-Fernández AJ, Martínez-López E. High Levels of Heavy Metals detected in Feathers of an Avian Scavenger Warn of a High Pollution Risk in the Atacama Desert (Chile). ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 81:227-235. [PMID: 34100967 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-021-00862-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Atacama Desert represents the highest levels of mining exploitation in Chile, which inexorably results in high levels of pollution. Raptors, and particularly scavengers, have shown their usefulness to evaluate exposure to environmental contaminants in polluted scenarios. In this study, we used primary feathers from a local avian scavenger, turkey vulture Cathartes aura, to evaluate the exposure to cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in two locations from the southern Atacama Desert (coastal and inland) and a third location from the bordering semiarid region, in northern Chile. All metals were detected in all analyzed samples (n = 54). Mean concentrations in Coastal Atacama were 0.68 ± 0.84 ppm for Cd; 1.97 ± 2.01 ppm for Pb; 59.11 ± 80.69 ppm for Cu; and 107.96 ± 51.00 ppm for Zn, while mean concentrations in Inland Atacama were 0.55 ± 0.42 ppm for Cd; 3.37 ± 2.61 ppm for Pb; 91.66 ± 77.74 ppm for Cu; and 214.03 ± 99.08 ppm for Zn. Mean concentrations in Coastal Coquimbo were 0.63 ± 0.69 ppm for Cd; 1.57 ± 0.92 ppm for Pb; 18.09 ± 6.12 ppm for Cu; and 149.37 ± 105.56 ppm for Zn. These differences could be explained by differences on abundance of mining settlements among areas. According to the literature, these values are very high for all metals, exceeding in some cases those values referred as responsible of health disorders in birds. We strongly recommend further research looking at potential adverse effects caused by heavy metal pollution on the health of human and wildlife populations in the southern Atacama Desert.
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Affiliation(s)
- G López-Berenguer
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - J M Pérez-García
- Ecology Area, Department of Applied Biology, University Miguel Hernández, 03202, Elche, Spain
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - A J García-Fernández
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - E Martínez-López
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
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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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Arteau J, Boucher É, Poirier A, Widory D. Historical smelting activities in Eastern Canada revealed by Pb concentrations and isotope ratios in tree rings of long-lived white cedars (Thuja occidentalis L.). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 740:139992. [PMID: 32927536 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mining activities at Duparquet in Western Quebec (Canada) have significantly affected the local environment and left behind significant amounts of metals. Monitoring this contamination is essential to infer its past and present impacts on environmental quality and to evaluate the resulting human exposure. In that context, we measured long time series of Pb concentrations and their corresponding stable isotope ratios in long-lived white cedars (Thuja occidentalis L.) growing at Duparquet Lake in order to evaluate potential time variations of the Pb environmental contamination as well as to identify the responsible source(s). Results show that before 1950, Pb at Duparquet is mostly terrigenous. Lead concentrations rapidly increase afterwards. A simultaneous shift to lower 206Pb/207Pb ratios identifies the smelting of Abitibi ores as the source of contamination. An isotope mass balance model evaluates at roughly 7.5-20%, 5-40%, 5-9% and <3% the Pb contributions from local smelters at distances of 3.6, 3.9, 7 and 9 km, respectively. The dispersion of the Pb contamination plume is possibly driven by the distance from the Beattie smelter. We finally estimated a delay of at least 13 years between atmospheric emissions from the Beattie smelting activities and the time they are recorded by tree rings. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that white cedar tree rings series provide reliable archives of past and present Pb atmospheric contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Arteau
- GEOTOP/UQAM, Montreal, Canada; TOXEN/UQAM, Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | - David Widory
- GEOTOP/UQAM, Montreal, Canada; TOXEN/UQAM, Montreal, Canada.
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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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González-Villalobos MA, Martínez-Trinidad T, Alarcón A, Plascencia-Escalante FO. Growth and lead uptake by Parkinsonia aculeata L. inoculated with Rhizophagus intraradices. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION 2020; 23:272-278. [PMID: 32853027 DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2020.1812506] [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] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The increased lead (Pb) pollution in the biosphere has resulted in serious environmental problems, so it is essential to evaluate phytoremediation strategies for contaminated soils. This study evaluated the growth and Pd absorption capacity of Pakinsonia aculeata, inoculated with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Rhizophagus intraradices) over 18 weeks under greenhouse conditions. Treatments included inoculated and non-inoculated plants combined with six Pb concentrations (0, 40, 80, 160, 320, 640 mg·L-1) in the form of Pb(NO3)2. Results showed that mycorrhizal colonization in inoculated plants ranged from 5.0 to 6.7% and favored plant growth. Pb levels and AMF-inoculation had no effects on chlorophyll fluorescence values. AMF-plants absorbed significantly more Pb in roots (237.97 mg·kg-1) than control plants (202.85 mg·kg-1), as well as high translocation to shoots (27.02 mg·kg-1) under the high Pb dose. The increase in Pb concentration reduced the P concentration in roots, and the P and N concentrations in shoots; however, the absorption and translocation of Ca and Mg was increased in shoots. Inoculation of R. intraradices improved both growth and Pb uptake of P. aculeata, under greenhouse conditions suggesting that this tree species may be potentially studied for detoxifying Pb-polluted soils.
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Wang C, Wang J, Zhao Y, Zhong C. The vertical migration and speciation of the Pb in the paddy soil: A case study of the Yangtze River Delta, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 179:108741. [PMID: 31541907 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Migration of Pb in the soil can be enhanced by acidification and frequent change of environmental condition. The paddy soil, where the environmental condition such as redox fluctuates frequently due to soil submergence and drainage, may offer a favorable condition for Pb migrating to deeper soil and further contaminate groundwater by leaching or irrigation. To date, not much is known about how quickly Pb migrates in the soil and the relevant transformation of Pb. We use long-term soil profile monitoring, sequential extraction and isotopic measurement to examine the temporal change of concentrations and isotopic ratios of Pb associated with different soil components in the paddy soil profile in the Yangtze River Delta area during 2011-2017. We find that Pb vertical migration in the paddy soil is faster. Pb in the shallow soil may migrate downward up to 60 cm during six years. The migration of Pb is dominated by the carbonate, and secondarily influenced by Fe/Mn oxides. Our results also imply that the mechanism of Pb migration in soils is changing. The mechanism which is now characterized as the carbonate-dominating will be replaced as the Fe/Mn oxides-dominating in the near future as the carbonate in shallow soil is becoming depleted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China.
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC, 20015, USA
| | - Yanping Zhao
- Guangdong Institute of Analysis, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Cong Zhong
- Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, China
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Helander B, Sundbom M, Runkel AA, Bignert A. Temporal Changes in Concentrations of Lead and Other Trace Metals in Free-Ranging Eurasian Eagle Owls Bubo bubo in Sweden. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 77:377-389. [PMID: 31312864 PMCID: PMC6731201 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-019-00654-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Patterns of lead and other trace metals were examined in 122 Eurasian eagle owls Bubo bubo found dead in Sweden in the period 1978-2013. Environmental lead (Pb) has decreased over recent decades from reduced anthropogenic emissions but mortality by Pb poisoning is still frequently reported for avian raptors and scavengers exposed to Pb ammunition. One objective here was to determine if Pb concentrations in a nocturnal non-scavenging raptor follow the general decline observed in other biota. Pb concentration in owl liver was significantly correlated with body weight, sex, latitude, longitude and season. Pb showed a significant decreasing trend towards north and west. Starved birds had significantly higher concentrations. Total Pb concentrations in liver averaged 0.179 μg g-1 dry weight (median 0.103) and decreased by 5.6% per year 1978-2013, or 5.3% after adjustment for confounding factors, similar to trends in other species. Among 14 other trace elements only antimony and arsenic showed decreasing trends. Lead isotope ratios 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb increased from 1.138 and 2.408 in 1978-1985 to 1.170 and 2.435 in 2010-2013, respectively, demonstrating that the decreasing Pb concentration in eagle owl is related to the phase-out of leaded gasoline in Europe, where Pb additives had much lower isotope ratios than natural lead in Swedish soils. Only one incidence of suspected Pb poisoning (40.7 μg g-1 in liver) was observed indicating that poisoning from ingestion of metallic lead is rare (< 1%) in eagle owl in Sweden, in contrast to what has been reported for eagles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Helander
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Marcus Sundbom
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agneta A Runkel
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anders Bignert
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
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Bindler R. Comment on "Next-Generation Ice Core Technology Reveals True Minimum Natural Levels of Lead (Pb) in the Atmosphere: Insights From the Black Death" by More et al. GEOHEALTH 2018; 2:155-161. [PMID: 32158019 PMCID: PMC7007141 DOI: 10.1002/2018gh000135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Over the past four decades numerous studies of lake sediment, marine sediment, and peat from sites in close proximity to mining or metallurgical centers and in remote locations have detailed local and regional histories of lead (Pb) pollution in Europe. Contrary to More et al.'s (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GH000064) claim that "previous assumptions about preindustrial "natural" background lead levels in the atmosphere have been misleading," these studies have clearly shown that true natural background conditions occurred more than 2,500 or even 3,500 years ago, and Pb pollution has proceeded uninterrupted since. The implications of this have been discussed within the context of environmental policy, for example, European Water Framework Directive. Though these records reflect a common European narrative of mining, metallurgy, and pollution, each reflects a combination of local and regional events, leading to differences in the timing and intensity of changes in each Pb record. No one record-ice or otherwise-fully represents the three millennia Pb pollution history in Europe. While the resolution of the ice record is impressive, there are questions about its interpretation. First, the authors discount local and regional Pb sources, whereas there is a close connection between the mining history in an area 40 km from the glacier and changes in a nearby lake Pb record; second, significant changes in ice chemistry cooccurring with the lowest Pb values are overlooked. A sharp increase in Ca/Fe ratios occurs precisely with the steepest Pb declines during the Black Death and mid-1400s, suggesting additional processes influencing the Pb record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Bindler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
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10
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More AF, Spaulding NE, Bohleber P, Handley MJ, Hoffmann H, Korotkikh EV, Kurbatov AV, Loveluck CP, Sneed SB, McCormick M, Mayewski PA. The Role of Historical Context in Understanding Past Climate, Pollution and Health Data in Trans-disciplinary Studies: Reply to Comments on More et al., 2017. GEOHEALTH 2018; 2:162-170. [PMID: 32159523 PMCID: PMC7007076 DOI: 10.1029/2017gh000121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the context from which evidence emerges is of paramount importance in reaching robust conclusions in scientific inquiries. This is as true of the present as it is of the past. In a trans-disciplinary study such as More et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GH000064) and many others appearing in this and similar journals, a proper analysis of context demands the use of historical evidence. This includes demographic, epidemiological, and socio-economic data-common in many studies of the impact of anthropogenic pollution on human health-and, as in this specific case, also geoarchaeological evidence. These records anchor climate and pollution data in the geographic and human circumstances of history, without which we lose a fundamental understanding of the data itself. This article addresses Hinkley (2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GH000105) by highlighting the importance of context, focusing on the historical and archaeological evidence, and then discussing atmospheric deposition and circulation in the specific region of our study. Since many of the assertions in Bindler (2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2018GH000135) are congruent with our findings and directly contradict Hinkley (2018), this reply refers to Bindler (2018), whenever appropriate, and indicates where our evidence diverges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F. More
- Initiative for the Science of the Human Past and Department of HistoryHarvard UniversityCambridgeMAUSA
- Climate Change InstituteUniversity of MaineOronoMEUSA
| | - Nicole E. Spaulding
- Initiative for the Science of the Human Past and Department of HistoryHarvard UniversityCambridgeMAUSA
- Climate Change InstituteUniversity of MaineOronoMEUSA
| | - Pascal Bohleber
- Climate Change InstituteUniversity of MaineOronoMEUSA
- Institute of Environmental PhysicsHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | | | - Helene Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental PhysicsHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | | | | | | | | | - Michael McCormick
- Initiative for the Science of the Human Past and Department of HistoryHarvard UniversityCambridgeMAUSA
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Chu BX, Fan RF, Lin SQ, Yang DB, Wang ZY, Wang L. Interplay between autophagy and apoptosis in lead(II)-induced cytotoxicity of primary rat proximal tubular cells. J Inorg Biochem 2018; 182:184-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2018.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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12
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Shotyk W, Rausch N, Outridge PM, Krachler M. Isotopic evolution of atmospheric Pb from metallurgical processing in Flin Flon, Manitoba: Retrospective analysis using peat cores from bogs. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 218:338-348. [PMID: 27435613 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric Pb deposition was reconstructed using peat cores from bogs in the vicinity of Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada, home to a zinc refinery and copper smelter. The Sask Lake (SL4-1) core was collected 85 km NW of Flin Flon and Kotyk Lake (KOL) 30 km NE. The distribution of Sr and U show that both profiles are predominantly minerotrophic (ie groundwater-fed), but the Pb concentration profile shows that Pb was received exclusively from the atmosphere. Graphs of 208Pb/206Pb against 206Pb/207Pb document atmospheric Pb contamination dating from the early to mid-1800's, well before the start of metallurgical processing (in 1930) and attributable to long-range atmospheric transport from other regions of North America. Industrial activities at Flin Flon clearly affected the concentrations, enrichment factor (calculated using Sc), and accumulation rates of Pb, but it is the similarity in isotopic composition, and contrast with crustal values (206Pb/207Pb ca. 1.20 to 1.22) which makes the connection to the Flin Flon ores. The KOL samples dating from 1925-1976 CE have a 206Pb/207Pb of 1.032 ± 0.002 (n = 11) which approach the values for the Flin Flon ores (206Pb/207Pb = 1.008). But even at SL4-1, the peat samples dating from 1925-1976 CE have a 206Pb/207Pb of 1.061 ± 0.022 (n = 18) which is well below the corresponding ratio of Canadian leaded gasoline (206Pb/207Pb = ca. 1.15). The SL4-1 site too, therefore, was clearly impacted by Pb from mining and metallurgy, despite the distance (88 km) from Flin Flon and being predominantly upwind. These two bogs not only provide the chronology of atmospheric Pb deposition for the past decades, but suggest that the extent of contamination may have been underestimated by previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Shotyk
- Bocock Chair for Agriculture and the Environment, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 348B South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada.
| | - N Rausch
- University of Heidelberg, Institute of Environmental Geochemistry, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - P M Outridge
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - M Krachler
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements, P.O. Box 2340, 76125 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Ohata M, Nonose N, Dorta L, Günther D. Comparison of 265 nm Femtosecond and 213 nm Nanosecond Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Pb Isotope Ratio Measurements. ANAL SCI 2016; 31:1309-15. [PMID: 26656823 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.31.1309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The analytical performance of 265 nm femtosecond laser ablation (fs-LA) and 213 nm nanosecond laser ablation (ns-LA) systems coupled with multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) for Pb isotope ratio measurements of solder were compared. Although the time-resolved signals of Pb measured by fs-LA-MC-ICPMS showed smoother signals compared to those obtained by ns-LA-MC-ICPMS, similar precisions on Pb isotope ratio measurements were obtained between them, even though their operating conditions were slightly different. The mass bias correction of the Pb isotope ratio measurement was carried out by a comparison method using a Pb standard solution prepared from NIST SRM 981 Pb metal isotopic standard, which was introduced into the ICP by a desolvation nebulizer (DSN) via a dual-sample introduction system, and it was successfully demonstrated for Pb isotope ratio measurements for either NIST 981 metal isotopic standard or solder by fs-LA-MC-ICPMS since the analytical results agreed well with the certified value as well as the determined value within their standard deviations obtained and the expanded uncertainty of the certified or determined value. The Pb isotope ratios of solder obtained by ns-LA-MC-ICPMS also showed agreement with respect to the determined value within their standard deviations and expanded uncertainty. From these results, it was evaluated that the mass bias correction applied in the present study was useful and both LA-MC-ICPMS could show similar analytical performance for the Pb isotope ratio microanalysis of metallic samples such as solder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Ohata
- Inorganic Standards Group, Research Institute for Material and Chemical Measurement, National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
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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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15
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Farmer JG, Graham MC, Eades LJ, Lilly A, Bacon JR. Influences upon the lead isotopic composition of organic and mineral horizons in soil profiles from the National Soil Inventory of Scotland (2007-09). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 544:730-743. [PMID: 26674702 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Some 644 individual soil horizons from 169 sites in Scotland were analyzed for Pb concentration and isotopic composition. There were three scenarios: (i) 36 sites where both top and bottom (i.e. lowest sampled) soil horizons were classified as organic in nature, (ii) 67 with an organic top but mineral bottom soil horizon, and (iii) 66 where both top and bottom soil horizons were mineral. Lead concentrations were greater in the top horizon relative to the bottom horizon in all but a few cases. The top horizon (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio was lesser (outside analytical error) than the corresponding bottom horizon (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio at (i) 64%, (ii) 94% and (iii) 73% of sites, and greater at only (i) 8%, (ii) 3% and (iii) 8% of sites. A plot of (208)Pb/(207)Pb vs. (208)Pb/(206)Pb ratios showed that the Pb in organic top (i, ii) and bottom (i) horizons was consistent with atmospherically deposited Pb of anthropogenic origin. The (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio of the organic top horizon in (ii) was unrelated to the (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio of the mineral bottom horizon as demonstrated by the geographical variation in the negative shift in the ratio, a result of differences in the mineral horizon values arising from the greater influence of radiogenic Pb in the north. In (iii), the lesser values of the (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio for the mineral top horizon relative to the mineral bottom horizon were consistent with the presence of anthropogenic Pb, in addition to indigenous Pb, in the former. Mean anthropogenic Pb inventories of 1.5 and 4.5 g m(-2) were obtained for the northern and southern halves of Scotland, respectively, consistent with long-range atmospheric transport of anthropogenic Pb (mean (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio~1.16). For cultivated agricultural soils (Ap), this corresponded to about half of the total Pb inventory in the top 30 cm of the soil column.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Farmer
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF Scotland, UK.
| | - Margaret C Graham
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF Scotland, UK
| | - Lorna J Eades
- School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ Scotland, UK
| | - Allan Lilly
- James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH Scotland, UK
| | - Jeffrey R Bacon
- James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH Scotland, UK
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16
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Using Peat Records as Natural Archives of Past Atmospheric Metal Deposition. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9541-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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17
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Hassan W, Bano R, Bashir F, David J. Comparative effectiveness of ACC-deaminase and/or nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria in promotion of maize (Zea mays L.) growth under lead pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 21:10983-10996. [PMID: 24888619 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3083-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) pollution is appearing as an alarming threat nowadays. Excessive Pb concentrations in agricultural soils result in minimizing the soil fertility and health which affects the plant growth and leads to decrease in crop production. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria which can protect the plants against many abiotic stresses, and enhance the growth. The study aimed to identify important rhizobacterial strains by using the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) enrichment technique and examine their inoculation effects in the growth promotion of maize, under Pb pollution. A pot experiment was conducted and six rhizobacterial isolates were used. Pb was added to 2 kg soil in each pot (with 4 seeds/pot) using Pb(NO3)2 at the rate of 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg kg(-1) Pb with three replications in completely randomized design. Rhizobacterial isolates performed significantly better under all Pb levels, i.e., 100 to 400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil, compared to control. Comparing the efficacy of the rhizobacterial isolates under different Pb levels, rhizobacterial isolates having both ACC-deaminase and nitrogen-fixing activities (AN8 and AN12) showed highest increase in terms of the physical, chemical and enzymatic growth parameters of maize, followed by the rhizobacterial isolates having ACC-deaminase activity only (ACC5 and ACC8), and then the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia (Azotobacter and RN5). However, the AN8 isolate showed maximum efficiency, and highest shoot and root length (14.2 and 6.1 cm), seedling fresh and dry weights (1.91 and 0.14 g), chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids (24.1, 30.2 and 77.7 μg/l), protein (0.82 mg/g), proline (3.42 μmol/g), glutathione S-transferase, peroxidase and catalase (12.3, 4.2 and 7.2 units/mg protein), while the lowest Pb uptake in the shoot and root (0.83 and 0.48 mg/kg) were observed under this rhizobial isolate at the highest Pb level (i.e., 400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil). The results revealed that PGPR significantly decreases the deleterious effects of Pb pollution and increases the maize growth under all Pb concentrations, i.e., 100-400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil. PGPR chelate the Pb in the soil, and ultimately influence its bioavailability, release and uptake. The PGPR having both ACC-deaminase and nitrogen-fixing abilities are more effective and resistive against Pb pollution than PGPR having either ACC-deaminase or nitrogen-fixing activity alone. The ACC enrichment technique is an efficient approach to select promising PGPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Hassan
- Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China,
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Scheibye K, Weisser J, Borggaard OK, Larsen MM, Holm PE, Vammen K, Christensen JH. Sediment baseline study of levels and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in Lake Nicaragua. CHEMOSPHERE 2014; 95:556-565. [PMID: 24210598 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.09.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Revised: 09/22/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Selected metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in sediment samples from 24 sites in Lake Nicaragua sampled May 2010 to provide a baseline of pollution levels. Cu exceeded the Consensus-Based Sediment Quality Guideline (CBSQG) Threshold Effect Concentrations (TECs) at 21 sites while Ni exceeded the value at one site. Comparison of the sampling sites showed that the south-eastern shore and a central part of the lake contained the highest levels of As, Cd, Cr, and Ni, while the western part of the lake contained the highest levels of Cu, Pb, and Zn. Analysis of PAH levels showed that the CBSQG TECs were exceeded by naphthalene at five sites. The sum concentrations of the 16 US EPA priority PAHs (∑PAH16) ranged from 0.01 mg kg(-1) dw to 0.64 mg kg(-1) dw. The highest ∑PAH16 concentration was found upstream in River Mayales and the PAH composition revealed a heavy PAH fraction (e.g., creosote). The main sources of PAHs in Lake Nicaragua were determined as of diffuse petrogenic and pyrogenic origin as well as diagenetic produced perylene. The relative importance of these PAH sources was determined by interpretation of loading and score plots from a principal component analysis. This study concluded that areas of Lake Nicaragua represent an important pollution baseline for future studies in this lake and other tropical lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine Scheibye
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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19
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Fairchild IJ, Frisia S. Definition of the Anthropocene: a view from the underworld. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1144/sp395.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnnually laminated stalagmites from natural caves and limestone mines capture a number of significant environmental and climatic signals during the anthropogenically disturbed era. The effects of forest clearance, or development of agricultural or industrial practices, can be marked by changes in soil or hydrological responses leading to shifts in both chemical (e.g. carbon and oxygen isotope ratios or trace elements) and physical (e.g. fabric, thickness of laminae) signals. However, these signals are diachronous because of the spatial heterogeneity of human societies. Twentieth-century changes in atmospheric composition are known from speleothems at several sites and demonstrate pollution disturbance of the sulphur cycle and the signal provided by the 1950s rise in radiocarbon caused by atmospheric nuclear tests. This latter is a global signal and hence a strong candidate to define the start of the Anthropocene, although other considerations, including comparison with instrumental archives, would favour an earlier timing. An attractive option is the climate amelioration marking the end of the Little Ice Age in the mid-nineteenth century, which is marked in Alpine and other Northern Hemisphere areas. Examples are illustrated from the Grotta di Ernesto cave to illustrate the appearance of a putative mid-nineteenth-century boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian J. Fairchild
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Silvia Frisia
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308 NSW, Australia
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Pompeani DP, Abbott MB, Steinman BA, Bain DJ. Lake sediments record prehistoric lead pollution related to early copper production in North America. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:5545-5552. [PMID: 23621800 DOI: 10.1021/es304499c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The mining and use of copper by prehistoric people on Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula is one of the oldest examples of metalworking. We analyzed the concentration of lead, titanium, magnesium, iron, and organic matter in sediment cores recovered from three lakes located near mine pits to investigate the timing, location, and magnitude of ancient copper mining pollution. Lead concentrations were normalized to lithogenic metals and organic matter to account for processes that can influence natural (or background) lead delivery. Nearly simultaneous lead enrichments occurred at Lake Manganese and Copper Falls Lake ∼8000 and 7000 years before present (yr BP), indicating that copper extraction occurred concurrently in at least two locations on the peninsula. The poor temporal coherence among the lead enrichments from ∼6300 to 5000 yr BP at each lake suggests that the focus of copper mining and annealing shifted through time. In sediment younger than ∼5000 yr BP, lead concentrations remain at background levels at all three lakes, excluding historic lead increases starting ∼150 yr BP. Our work demonstrates that lead emissions associated with both the historic and Old Copper Complex tradition are detectable and can be used to determine the temporal and geographic pattern of metal pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Pompeani
- Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, 4107 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States.
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