Sources of dissolved mine drainage and atmospheric transported lead: a comparative case study in Japan and Sweden

Lead isotope ratios in six lake sediment cores from Japan Archipelago: Historical record of trans-boundary pollution sources

Sediment cores from six lakes situated from north to south on the Japanese Archipelago were collected during 2009-2010 to investigate the hypothesis that deposition of lead (Pb) was coming from East Asia (including China, South Korea and eastern part of Russia). Accumulation rates and ages of the lake sediment were estimated by the (210)Pb constant rate of supply model and (137)Cs inputs to reconstruct the historical trends of Pb accumulation. Cores from four lakes located in the north and central Japan, showed clear evidence of Pb pollution with a change in the (206)Pb/(207)Pb and (208)Pb/(207)Pb ratios in the recent sediment as compared to the deeper sediment. Among the six studied lakes, significant inputs of anthropogenic lead emissions were observed at Lake Mikazuki (north Hokkaido in north Japan), Lake Chokai (north of Honshu), and Lake Mikuriga (central part of Honshu). Pb isotopic comparison of collected core sediment and previously reported data for wet precipitation and aerosols from different Asian regions indicate that, before 1900, Pb accumulated in these three lakes was not affected by trans-boundary sources. Lake Mikazuki started to receive Pb emissions from Russia in early 1900s, and during the last two decades, this lake has been affected by trans-boundary Pb pollution from northern China. Lake Chokai has received Pb pollutant from northern China since early 1900s until 2009, whereas for the Lake Mikuriga the major Pb contaminant was transported from southern China during the past 100years. The results of our study demonstrate that Japan Archipelago has received trans-boundary Pb emissions from different parts of East Asian region depending on location, and the major source region has changed historically.

Sedimentary records of metal deposition in Japanese alpine lakes for the last 250 years: recent enrichment of airborne Sb and In in East Asia

Concentrations of 18 elements, including Sb, In, Sn, and Bi, were measured in sediment cores from two pristine alpine lakes on Mount Hachimantai, northern Japan, representing the past 250 years. Vertical variations in concentrations are better explained by atmospheric metal deposition than by diagenetic redistribution of Fe and Mn hydroxide and organic matter. Anthropogenic metal fluxes were estimated from (210)Pb-derived accumulation rates and metal concentrations in excess of the Al-normalized mean background concentration before 1850. Anthropogenic fluxes of Sb and In showed gradual increases starting around 1900 in both lakes, and marked increases after 1980. Comparison of Sb/Pb and Pb stable isotope ratios in sediments with those in aerosols of China or northern Japan and Japanese source materials (recent traffic- and incinerator-derived dust) suggest that the markedly elevated Sb flux after 1980 resulted primarily from enhanced long-range transport in aerosols containing Sb and Pb from coal combustion on the Asian continent. The fluxes of In, Sn, and Bi which are present in Chinese coal showed increasing trends similar to Sb for both study lakes. This suggests that the same source although incinerators in Japan may not be ruled out as sources of In. The sedimentary records for the last 250 years indicate that atmospheric pollution of Sb and In in East Asia have intensified during recent decades.