Lead Isotopic and Metallic Pollution Record in Tree Rings from the Copperbelt Mining–Smelting Area, Zambia

Abstract

The composition of tree rings and soils was studied at several locations affected by smelting and transportation in the vicinity of Kitwe (Copperbelt,

Tracing the spatial distribution and mobility of metal/metalloid contaminants in Oxisols in the vicinity of the Nkana copper smelter, Copperbelt province, Zambia

“…According to our previous methodological studies (Ettler et al, 2004), the digests were diluted to Pb concentrations of 25 ± 5 μg l − 1 and analysed by ICP-MS. The detailed analytical conditions are given elsewhere (Mihaljevič et al, 2011). Correction for the mass bias was carried out using NIST 981 (common lead) standard solution analysed after every second sample.…”

“…4. The isotopic compositions of smelterderived sources are rather variable ( 206 Pb/ 207 Pb): 1.204-1.206 (fly ash), 1.191-1.274 (slags from Nkana), 1.21-1.28 (ore concentrates, taken from Mihaljevič et al, 2011). This variation indicates that the isotopic composition of the incoming processed material changed in the history of smelting activities at Kitwe.…”

“…More than 90 years of intense Cu and Co mining and ore processing have left enormous pollution related to the disposal sites for mining/smelting waste (mine tailings, slags) and to the continuous deposition of smelter stack particulates in the soil systems. Detailed environmental studies are still rare in this area (Meter et al, 1999;Tembo et al, 2006;Banza et al, 2009;Kříbek et al, 2010;Šráček et al, 2010;Mihaljevič et al, 2011).…”

Ten years of elemental atmospheric metal fallout and Pb isotopic composition monitoring using lichens in northeastern France

“…Consequently, differences in Pb isotope composition can be used to discriminate different sources. The Pb isotope technique has been employed in a number of environmental studies often using airborne particulates (e.g., Aberg et al, 1999;Bollhofer and Rosman, 2001;Deboudt et al, 1999;Flament et al, 2002;Graney and Landis, 2013;Haack et al, 2002;Lahd Geagea et al, 2008a, b;Mihaljevic et al, 2011;Monna et al, 1997;Negrel et al, 2015;Simonetti et al, 2000;Vé ron et al, 1999;Weiss et al, 1999). Since the 1995 publication of the pioneering study by Carignan and Gariepy (1995), numerous studies have highlighted the advantages of using Pb isotope ratios in lichens as a powerful tool for identifying atmospheric (Chiaradia and Cupelin, 2000;Dolgopolova et al, 2006;Doucet and Carignan, 2001;Monna et al, 1997;Simonetti et al, 2003;Spiro et al, 2004).…”

Some considerations in the reconstruction of lead levels using laser ablation: lessons from the design stage of dendrochemistry study, St.John's, Canada

“…Aznar et al, 2008;Kirchner et al, 2008;Lageard et al, 2008;Saint-Laurent et al, 2010;Wu et al, 2010;Mihaljevič et al, 2011 andZuna et al, 2011). These methods offer multi-element and isotope analysis with low detection limits, but relatively large amounts of wood sample are needed.…”