Decreasing of the industrial lead contamination in the Amundsen Sea area

Since the phasing-out of leaded automobile gasoline, the imprint of industrial lead is decreasing everywhere. Antarctica snow and ice are no exception to this general rule, as shown by measurements of lead (Pb) concentration and isotopic composition in these environments as well as in the Amundsen Sea Polynya. Up to 95% of the Pb at the time of sampling is natural in source, allowing tracing weathering from Antarctic rocks….

Photo: Silke Severmann, Rutgers University.

Reference:

Ndungu, K., Zurbrick, C. M., Stammerjohn, S., Severmann, S., Sherrell, R. M., & Flegal, A. R. (2016). Lead Sources to the Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(12), 6233–6239. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b05151

Latest highlights

Elevated methylmercury level in Arctic rain and aerosol linked to oceanic dimethylmercury emissions

He and colleagues highlight a previously underappreciated pathway of mercury transport, underscoring its significance to human health.

Unveiling the Complexity of Lead Distribution in the Pacific Ocean: Insights from the GEOTRACES GP15 Transect

This recent study by Jiang and colleagues investigate the distribution and sources of lead in the Pacific Ocean.

Organic matter export rates along a North-South Pacific Ocean section: what three estimating methods tell us

Quay and his colleagues present estimates of the organic matter export rate along the GEOTRACES GP15 cruise section.

East-West contrasting fate and anthropogenic inputs for dissolved trace metals in the Subarctic Pacific Ocean

Chan and co-authors report the full-depth distribution of dissolved nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium in the North Pacific Ocean.

Rechercher