Anthropogenic Signatures of Lead in the Northeast Atlantic [Anthropogenic signatures of lead in North West European margin]

Rusiecka, D.; Gledhill, M.; Milne, A.; Achterberg, E. P.; Annett, A. L.; Atkinson, S.; Birchill, A.; Karstensen, J.; Lohan, M.; Mariez, C.; Middag, R.; Rolison, J. M.; Tanhua, T.; Ussher, S.; Connelly, D.

doi:10.1002/2017GL076825

Title: Anthropogenic Signatures of Lead in the Northeast Atlantic [Anthropogenic signatures of lead in North West European margin]

Journal Article · Mon Mar 05 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL076825· OSTI ID:1466150

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University of Southampton (United Kingdom). Ocean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre; GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel (Germany)
University of Plymouth (United Kingdom). School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Univ. of Edinburgh, Scotland (United Kingdom). School of Geosciences
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel (Germany)
University of Southampton (United Kingdom). Ocean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre; University of Plymouth (United Kingdom). School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest (France)
NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel (Netherlands). Department of Ocean Systems
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, (Germany)
National Oceanography Centre Southampton (United Kingdom)

Anthropogenic activities have resulted in enhanced lead (Pb) emissions to the environment over the past century, mainly through the combustion of leaded gasoline. Here we present the first combined dissolved (DPb), labile (LpPb), and particulate (PPb) Pb data set from the Northeast Atlantic (Celtic Sea) since the phasing out of leaded gasoline in Europe. Concentrations of DPb in surface waters have decreased by fourfold over the last four decades. We demonstrate that anthropogenic Pb is transported from the Mediterranean Sea over long distances (>2,500 km). Benthic DPb fluxes exceeded the atmospheric Pb flux in the region, indicating the importance of sediments as a contemporary Pb source. A strong positive correlation between DPb, PPb, and LpPb indicates a dynamic equilibrium between the phases and the potential for particles to “buffer” the DPb pool. This study provides insights into Pb biogeochemical cycling and demonstrates the potential of Pb in constraining ocean circulation patterns.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1466150

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-756246; 943734

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 6; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 19 works

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Title: Anthropogenic Signatures of Lead in the Northeast Atlantic [Anthropogenic signatures of lead in North West European margin]

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