Historical reconstruction of contamination using sediment cores: A review. Technical memo

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6969547

Valette-Silver, N

Historical reconstructions of contamination using cored sediments have been performed in the United States and abroad, in marine as well as freshwater environments. Most studies have dealt with trace metals, while a few reported results for organic contaminants. With some exceptions, these studies show an increase in sediment contamination during the late 1800s, followed by an acceleration in the rate of contamination in the 1940s, and a plateau or a maximum in the 1960-1970s. Little is known about the trends of coastal pollution over the last decade, as only a few studies have been carried out since 1980. From these studies, however, it appears that Pb concentrations have decreased in most areas of the world following the implementation of laws regulating the use of leaded gasoline in automobiles.

• Research Organization: National Ocean Service, Seattle, WA (United States). Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment
• OSTI ID: 6969547
• Report Number(s): PB-93-105526/XAB; NOAA-TM-NOS-ORCA-65
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LEAD
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
DRILL CORES
FRESH WATER
GASOLINE
MONITORING
SEAWATER
WATER POLLUTION
ELEMENTS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FUELS
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)