Pb isotopes as tracers of mining-related Pb in lichens, seaweed and mussels near a former Pb-Zn mine in West Greenland

Jens Søndergaard; Gert Asmund; Poul Johansen; Bo Elberling

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2010.01.006

Pb isotopes as tracers of mining-related Pb in lichens, seaweed and mussels near a former Pb-Zn mine in West Greenland

Jens Søndergaard, Gert Asmund, Poul Johansen, Bo Elberling

Geology

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Identification of mining-related contaminants is important in order to assess the spreading of contaminants from mining as well as for site remediation purposes. This study focuses on lead (Pb) contamination in biota near the abandoned 'Black Angel Mine' in West Greenland in the period 1988-2008. Stable Pb isotope ratios and total Pb concentrations were determined in lichens, seaweed and mussels as well as in marine sediments. The results show that natural background Pb (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb: 0.704-0.767) and Pb originating from the mine ore (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb: 0.955) have distinct isotopic fingerprints. Total Pb in lichens, seaweed, and mussels was measured at values up to 633, 19 and 1536 mg kg^-1 dry weight, respectively, and is shown to be a mixture of natural Pb and ore-Pb. This enables quantification of mining-related Pb and shows that application of Pb isotope data is a valuable tool for monitoring mining pollution.

Original language	English
Journal	Environmental Pollution
Volume	158
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	1319–1326
Number of pages	8
ISSN	0269-7491
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2010.01.006
Publication status	Published - May 2010

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.envpol.2010.01.006

Cite this

@article{e3412160e1b911dfb6d2000ea68e967b,

title = "Pb isotopes as tracers of mining-related Pb in lichens, seaweed and mussels near a former Pb-Zn mine in West Greenland",

abstract = "Identification of mining-related contaminants is important in order to assess the spreading of contaminants from mining as well as for site remediation purposes. This study focuses on lead (Pb) contamination in biota near the abandoned 'Black Angel Mine' in West Greenland in the period 1988-2008. Stable Pb isotope ratios and total Pb concentrations were determined in lichens, seaweed and mussels as well as in marine sediments. The results show that natural background Pb (207Pb/206Pb: 0.704-0.767) and Pb originating from the mine ore (207Pb/206Pb: 0.955) have distinct isotopic fingerprints. Total Pb in lichens, seaweed, and mussels was measured at values up to 633, 19 and 1536 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively, and is shown to be a mixture of natural Pb and ore-Pb. This enables quantification of mining-related Pb and shows that application of Pb isotope data is a valuable tool for monitoring mining pollution.",

author = "Jens S{\o}ndergaard and Gert Asmund and Poul Johansen and Bo Elberling",

year = "2010",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.envpol.2010.01.006",

language = "English",

volume = "158",

pages = "1319–1326",

journal = "Environmental Pollution",

issn = "0269-7491",

publisher = "Pergamon Press",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pb isotopes as tracers of mining-related Pb in lichens, seaweed and mussels near a former Pb-Zn mine in West Greenland

AU - Søndergaard, Jens

AU - Asmund, Gert

AU - Johansen, Poul

AU - Elberling, Bo

PY - 2010/5

Y1 - 2010/5

N2 - Identification of mining-related contaminants is important in order to assess the spreading of contaminants from mining as well as for site remediation purposes. This study focuses on lead (Pb) contamination in biota near the abandoned 'Black Angel Mine' in West Greenland in the period 1988-2008. Stable Pb isotope ratios and total Pb concentrations were determined in lichens, seaweed and mussels as well as in marine sediments. The results show that natural background Pb (207Pb/206Pb: 0.704-0.767) and Pb originating from the mine ore (207Pb/206Pb: 0.955) have distinct isotopic fingerprints. Total Pb in lichens, seaweed, and mussels was measured at values up to 633, 19 and 1536 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively, and is shown to be a mixture of natural Pb and ore-Pb. This enables quantification of mining-related Pb and shows that application of Pb isotope data is a valuable tool for monitoring mining pollution.

AB - Identification of mining-related contaminants is important in order to assess the spreading of contaminants from mining as well as for site remediation purposes. This study focuses on lead (Pb) contamination in biota near the abandoned 'Black Angel Mine' in West Greenland in the period 1988-2008. Stable Pb isotope ratios and total Pb concentrations were determined in lichens, seaweed and mussels as well as in marine sediments. The results show that natural background Pb (207Pb/206Pb: 0.704-0.767) and Pb originating from the mine ore (207Pb/206Pb: 0.955) have distinct isotopic fingerprints. Total Pb in lichens, seaweed, and mussels was measured at values up to 633, 19 and 1536 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively, and is shown to be a mixture of natural Pb and ore-Pb. This enables quantification of mining-related Pb and shows that application of Pb isotope data is a valuable tool for monitoring mining pollution.

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.01.006

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.01.006

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20138695

SN - 0269-7491

VL - 158

SP - 1319

EP - 1326

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

IS - 5

ER -

Pb isotopes as tracers of mining-related Pb in lichens, seaweed and mussels near a former Pb-Zn mine in West Greenland

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this