Lead concentrations and stable lead isotope ratios in moss in Slovenia and Switzerland

Schnyder, Elvira; Štrok, Marko; Kosonen, Zaida; Skudnik, Mitja; Mazej, Darja; Jeran, Zvonka; Thöni, Lotti

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.06.072

Cited by 26 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Our study revealed a marked drop in overall lead concentration in roe deer antlers from the study area following the introduction of unleaded gasoline in the FRG in October 1984. These findings are consistent with the results of other studies that focus on the trend of lead concentrations in antlers of European roe deer over time (Table 2), as well as in antlers of red deer (Cervus elaphus) (e.g., Giżejewska et al 2020) and in other terrestrial biota (e.g., Schnyder et al 2018;Helander et al 2019). This indicates the overall success of the phase-out of leaded gasoline and additional measures taken to reduce lead release to the environment from anthropogenic sources.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Lead concentrations in antlers of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from an agricultural area in Northern Germany over a 119-year period—a historical biomonitoring study

Ludolphy

Kierdorf

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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We analyzed the lead content in antlers of 90 adult European roe bucks (Capreolus capreolus) that had been culled between 1901 and 2019 in an agricultural-dominated hunting district in Lower Saxony (Northern Germany). Antler lead values ranged between 0.2 and 10.9 mg/kg dry weight. Median lead concentration was highest after World War II, during a period (1956–1984) of rapidly increasing mass motorization and use of leaded gasoline. Lead levels in antlers decreased markedly after the phase-out of leaded gasoline, but high values were still found in some recently collected antlers. This could indicate persistent lead pollution from former use of lead additives to gasoline, other traffic-related sources, or from agricultural sources (e.g., sewage sludge, fertilizers). This study highlights the suitability of analyzing roe deer antlers for the historical monitoring of changing lead levels in the environment. By collecting antlers and providing them for study, local hunters can significantly contribute to environmental surveillance and the monitoring of environmental pollution by bone-seeking contaminants.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Lead concentrations in antlers of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from an agricultural area in Northern Germany over a 119-year period—a historical biomonitoring study

Ludolphy

Kierdorf

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…In similar way as for Pb concentrations, Pb isotopic fingerprint seems to be rather homogeneous along the whole area (see Supplementary Figure S3). The results from mosses are consistent with values reported for Pb in the mountainous ecosystem of the Alps (1.150-1.170 for 206 Pb/ 207 Pb and 2.090-2.115 208 Pb/ 206 Pb) (Schnyder et al, 2018). Mosses on sites 19E, 22E and 25E (i.e., Spanish slope) present 206 Pb/ 207 Pb values of about 1.18, suggesting a more crustal signature.…”

Section: Pb Isotopes In Lichens and Mossessupporting

confidence: 87%

Comparison of the Isotopic Composition of Hg and Pb in Two Atmospheric Bioaccumulators in a Pyrenean Beech Forest (Iraty Forest, Western Pyrenees, France/Spain)

Barré

Queipo-Abad

Sola-Larrañaga

et al. 2020

Front. Environ. Chem.

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Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) isotopic compositions were investigated in mosses and lichens collected in a large mountainous beech forest (Iraty Forest) located on the French-Spanish Pyrenean border. Hg isotopic signature in topsoil samples were also analyzed in selected sampling sites. This is the first work that uses the complementary information of both isotopic systems in two distinct atmospheric bioaccumulators. Mosses and lichens present characteristic accumulation due to their integration times, displaying different information on metal pollution over the area. Hg and Pb concentrations in annual moss shoots represent recent atmospheric accumulation, while whole lichen thalli integrates a process of accumulation over a longer period. Lead isotope ratios in mosses are consistent with reported data corresponding to the actual European atmospheric background (206Pb/207Pb ∼ 1.158), while Hg isotopic composition reflects potential uptake of both dry and wet Hg depositions. For lichens, Pb isotopic composition exhibits the contribution of a longer integration period of both industrial Pb emissions and legacy of leaded gasoline pollution. Hg isotopes in lichens discriminate two main groups: a larger one representing the background atmospheric contribution and a second one corresponding to unexpected higher Hg content. The similarities in odd and even Mass-independent fractionation of Hg isotopes between topsoils and lichens from the larger group, support the idea that foliage uptake is the main input of Hg in soils. The second group of lichens exhibits more negative δ202Hg (down to –4.69‰) suggesting a new source of fractionation in this area, probably related to lichens aging and/or stubble and grass fires due to pastoral activities. This study demonstrates that using both Hg and Pb isotopic signature in lichens and mosses allows to trace atmospheric sources and environmental pathways of these metals in forested ecosystems. This original data set in a remote environment provides also new information on the fate of atmospheric Pb and Hg depositions.

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“…However, since no continuous concordance between Figure 7. Pb isotopic signatures ( 208 Pb/ 206 Pb vs. 206 Pb/ 207 Pb) from peat samples of Pürgschachen Moor (P sample numbers, green dots) in comparison with copper ores at Mitterberg (Salzburg, Austria;Pernicka et al, 2016), galena at Öblarn (Styria, Austria;Grögler et al, 1965), moss samples from the Ammergau Alps (Bavaria, Germany; Shotyk et al, 2015), and moss samples taken in Slovenia and in the Swiss Central Alps (Schnyder et al, 2018). Average Pb isotopic signatures of industrial emissions from France (Monna et al, 1997) and of the upper continental crust (UCC;Millot et al, 2004) as well as the Pb isotopic composition of German coal (Díaz-Somoano et al, 2009) and Saharan dust (Abouchami et al, 2003) are given as further references.…”

Section: Late-holocene Human Activities In the Liezen Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Monna et al, 1997), indicated by an arrow (top left). The low 206 Pb/ 207 Pb ratio of P1 is attributed to increased industrialization processes and the peak of leaded gasoline consumption in recent decades (see also Cloy et al, 2008;Forel et al, 2010;Shotyk et al, 2015;Drexler et al, 2016;Schnyder et al, 2018). Radiocarbon dates from Pürgschachen Moor (see Table 1).…”

Section: Late-holocene Human Activities In the Liezen Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic and climate signals in late-Holocene peat layers of an ombrotrophic bog in the Styrian Enns valley (Austrian Alps)

Knierzinger

Drescher-Schneider²,

Knorr

et al. 2020

E&G Quaternary Sci. J.

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Abstract. Using peat bogs as palaeoenvironmental archives is a well-established practice for reconstructing changing climate and anthropogenic activity in the past. In this paper, we present multi-proxy analyses (element geochemistry, pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, stable Pb isotopes, humification, ash content) of a 500 cm long, 14C-dated peat core covering the past ∼5000 years from the ombrotrophic Pürgschachen Moor in the Styrian Enns valley (Austrian Alps). Early indications of low settlement and agricultural activity date to ∼2900 cal BCE. An early enrichment of Cu was found in peat layers corresponding to the late Copper Age (∼2500 cal BCE). These enrichments are attributed to Cu mining activities in the Eisenerz Alps. More pronounced increases in cultural indicators (cultivated plants, shrubs, herbs, charcoal) in the pollen record and enrichments of trace metals suggest significant human impact in the vicinity of Pürgschachen Moor in the middle Bronze Age (∼1450–1250 cal BCE), in the late Bronze Age (∼1050–800 cal BCE) and in the period of the late La Tène culture (∼300 cal BCE–1 cal CE). The greater part of the Iron Age and the Roman imperial period are each characterized by a general decline in anthropogenic indicators compared to previous periods. Distinct enrichments of Pb and Sb in the sample that corresponds to ∼900 cal CE are attributed to medieval siderite mining activity in the immediate vicinity of Pürgschachen Moor. The results of this interdisciplinary study provide evidence that strong, climate-controlled interrelations exist between the pollen record, the humification degree and the ash content in an ombrotrophic environment. Human activity, in contrast, is mainly reflected in the pollen record and by enrichments of heavy metals. The study indicates a dry period in the region of the bog around ∼1950 cal BCE.

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Lead concentrations and stable lead isotope ratios in moss in Slovenia and Switzerland

Cited by 26 publications

References 30 publications

Lead concentrations in antlers of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from an agricultural area in Northern Germany over a 119-year period—a historical biomonitoring study

Lead concentrations in antlers of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from an agricultural area in Northern Germany over a 119-year period—a historical biomonitoring study

Comparison of the Isotopic Composition of Hg and Pb in Two Atmospheric Bioaccumulators in a Pyrenean Beech Forest (Iraty Forest, Western Pyrenees, France/Spain)

Anthropogenic and climate signals in late-Holocene peat layers of an ombrotrophic bog in the Styrian Enns valley (Austrian Alps)

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