Concentrations and deposition fluxes of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the dated sediments of a rural English lake

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620120906· OSTI ID:5816024

Sanders, G; Jones, K C; Hamilton-Taylor, J ^[1]; Doerr, H ^[2]

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1. Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom)Inst. of Environmental and Biological Sciences
2. Univ. of Heidelberg (Germany). Inst. of Environmental Physics

Deposition fluxes have been estimated from concentrations of 12 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and six heavy metals measured in sediment cores from Esthwaite Water, a rural English lake. Atmospheric deposition is a major source of PAHs and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) to the lake, so trends in the core may indicate the long-term record of changes in the atmospheric loading of these pollutants. The cores were dated radiometrically and pollutant trends studied since about 1820. PAH fluxes began to increase from stable background levels around the turn of the century (4.1 [mu]g [Sigma]PAH per gram dry weight, 287 ng [Sigma]PAH centimeter squared per year), rising to maximum inputs between 1950 and 1970. The deposition flux of PAHs has decreased steadily since then and is now less than half the maximum. In recent sediments, the relative proportions of individual PAHs making up the [Sigma]PAH burden have remained virtually unchanged, with fluoranthene, pyrene, and benzo [ghi]perylene the most abundant compounds. However, perylene, a biogenically produced PAH, dominates the mixture in the sediments older than 1890. Cadmium, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the Esthwaite sediments broadly follow the same temporal trends as the PAHs with varying peak inputs between 1925 and 1975. Concentrations in the modern sediments are now lower than in recent decades, with [Sigma]PAH, Cd, and Pb showing the greatest reduction. However, fluxes of these contaminants to surface sediments are still greater than those deposited before 1840.

• OSTI ID: 5816024
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 12:9; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
CADMIUM
COPPER
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EUROPE
HYDROCARBONS
LAKES
LEAD
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RURAL AREAS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UNITED KINGDOM
WATER POLLUTION
WESTERN EUROPE
ZINC