A quantitative assessment of the sources and general dynamics of trace metals in a soft-water lake

Abstract

Dissolved (qO.45 pm) and particulate concentrations of Fe, Mn, Al, Cu, Pb, and Zn were measured at intervals of 2-6 weeks in rivers, sewage effluents, atmospheric deposition, and surface lake waters within the Windermere (U.K.) catchment over a 2-yr period. Factor analysis revealed a number of geochemical associations: a large proportion of the particulate Fe, Al, Pb, and Cu appears to be associated with detrital mineral and organic material in the rivers, sewage effluents, and atmospheric deposition; redox processes, probably occurring higher in the catchment, have an appreciable influence on the riverine concentrations of dissolved Fe and Mn, particulate Mn, and to a lesser extent particulate Fe and Zn; pollution terms account for most of the variance of dissolved Fe, Cu, Pb, and Zn, and particulate Cu, Pb, and Zn in the sewage effluent and atmospheric deposition data sets, respectively; and an association in the rivers of dissolved Al and Zn concentrations with discharge is probably related to catchment soil processes.Mass balances were determined for the metals, including a detailed assessment of the errors involved. An inbalance was apparent between the inputs and outputs (flushing and sedimentation), probably due to underestimation of particulate loads in the rivers. Fe, Mn, and Al were predominantly (> 90%) supplied by rivers, while Cu, Pb, and Zn received significant inputs from direct atmospheric deposition and sewage discharges. The residence times of the dissolved metals in Windermere were in the order: Cu > Zn > Pb * Fe, a sequence consistent with observations in various alpine lakes. More than 50% of the dissolved inputs of each metal was retained in the lake, except for Cu, which appeared to show a small net loss from the lake.

Nickel, Copper, Zinc and Cadmium Cycling with Manganese in Lake Vanda (Wright Valley, Antarctica)

“…Cadmium values for the upper waters of the lake (0.04-0.11 nM) are somewhat lower than those reported for the oceans, where a range of 0.3-0.9 nM is observed in deep waters. We make this marine comparison because the trace metal chemistry of seawater has been widely reported and has come to serve as a kind of geochemical standard for metals in pristine aquatic systems (Hamilton-Taylor and Willis, 1990;Balistrieri et al, 1994;Green et al, 1986). Metal concentrations in Lake Vanda are also comparable to those observed in open-lake systems.…”

Diurnal variations of trace metals and heterotrophic bacterioplankton concentration in a small boreal lake of the White Sea basin

“…Less in known about the fate of trace metals, except those involved in redox cycles linked to photoreduction that has been extensively investigated (McMahon, 1969;Emmenegger et al, 2001). There is a large body of literature on trace element geochemistry in temperate lakes (e.g., Hamilton-Taylor and Willis, 1990;Noel et al, 1990;Balistrieri, 1992;Viollier et al, 1995Viollier et al, , 1997Hamilton-Taylor et al, 1996Nriagu et al, 1996;Falkner et al, 1997;Albe´ric et al, 2000), including detailed seasonal observations. However the diurnal patterns of trace metal concentration remain poorly investigated.…”

The Turnover of Metals in a Eutrophic and an Oligotrophic Lake in Sweden

“…9), additional factors being higher SPM flux and pH. The residence time was longer for Cu than for Zn, Pb, and Fe as has also been found in other lakes like L. Windermere, UK, L. Alpnach, L. Constanze, and L. Zürich, Switzerland (35). A common interpretation is that the mobility of Cu is enhanced by formation of organic complexes, which hamper the sorption of Cu in SPM as well as the uptake of Cu by biota (9,36,37).…”