Skip to main content

Using Natural Archives to Track Sources and Long-Term Trends of Pollution: Some Final Thoughts and Suggestions for Future Directions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 1870 Accesses

Part of the book series: Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research ((DPER,volume 18))

Abstract

Newly produced, as well as some so-called legacy contaminants, continue to be released into the environment at an accelerated rate. Given the general lack of integrated, direct monitoring programs, the use of natural archival records of contaminants will almost certainly continue to increase. We conclude this volume with a short chapter highlighting some of our final thoughts, with a focus on a call to action to develop and apply methodologies to assess the fidelity of the archival record.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alvarez DA, Rosen MR, Perkins SD, Cranor WL, Schroeder VL, Jones-Lepp TL (2012) Bottom sediment as a source of organic contaminants in Lake Mead, Nevada, USA. Chemosphere 88:605–611

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade CF, Jamieson HE, Kyser TK, Praharaj T, Fortin D (2010) Biogeochemical redox cycling of arsenic in mine-impacted lake sediments and co-existing pore waters near Giant Mine, Yellowknife Bay, Canada. Appl Geochem 25:199–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biester, H, Bindler R, Martinez-Cortizas A, Engstrom DR (2007) Modeling the past atmospheric deposition of mercury using natural archives. Environ Sci Technol 41:4851–4860

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blais JM, Kalff J, Cornett RJ, Evans RD (1995) Evaluating 210Pb dating in lake sediments using stable Pb, Ambrosia pollen, and 137Cs. J Paleolimnol 13:169–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feyte S, Gobeil C, Tessier A, Cossa D (2012) Mercury dynamics in lake sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 82:92–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foster IDL, Mighall TM, Proffitt H, Walling DE, Owens PN (2006) Post-depositional 137Cs mobility in the sediments of three shallow coastal lagoons, SW England. J Paleolimnol 35:881–895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gälman V, Rydberg J, Sjo¨stedt de-LunaS, Bindler R, Renberg I (2008) Carbon and nitrogen loss rates during ageing of lake sediment: changes over 27 years studied in a varved lake sediment. Limnol Oceanogr 53:1076–1082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gälman V, Rydberg J, Bigler C (2009) Decadal diagenetic effects on δ13C and δ15N studied in varved lake sediment. Limnol Oceanogr 54:917–924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klaminder J, Appleby P, Crook P, Renberg I (2012) Post-deposition diffusion of 137Cs in lake sediment: implications for radiocaesium dating. Sedimentology 59:2259–2267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lockhart WL, Macdonald RW, Outridge PM, Wilkinson P, DeLaronde JB, Rudd JWM (2000) Tests of the fidelity of lake sediment core records of mercury deposition to known histories of mercury contamination. Sci Total Environ 260:171–180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahler BJ, Van Metre PC, Bashara TJ, Wilson JT, Johns DA (2005) Parking lot sealcoat: an unrecognized source of urban PAHs. Environ Sci Technol 39:5560–5566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price LE, Fawcett CP, Young PC, Rowan JS (2000) Modelling reservoir sedimentation and estimating historical deposition rates using a data-based mechanistic (DBM) approach. Hydrol Sci J 45:237–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen MR, Van Metre PC (2010) Assessment of multiple sources of anthropogenic and natural chemical inputs to a morphologically complex basin, Lake Mead, USA. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 294:30–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruppel M, Lund MT, Grythe H, Rose NL, Weckström J, Korhola A (2013) Comparison of spheroidal carbonaceous particle data with modelled atmospheric black carbon concentration and deposition and air mass sources in Northern Europe, 1850–2010. Adv Meteorol 2013:15, Article ID 393926, doi: 10.1155/2013/393926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rydberg J, Martinez-Cortizas A (2014) Geochemical assessment of an annually laminated lake sediment record from northern Sweden: a multi-core, multi-element approach. J Paleolimnol 51:499–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rydberg J, Gälman V, Renberg I, Lambertsson L, Martinez Cortizas A, Bindler R (2008) Assessing the stability of mercury and methylmercury in a varved lake sediment deposit. Environ Sci Technol 42:4391–4396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuster PF, Krabbenhoft DP, Naftz DL, Cecil LD, Olson MD, Dewild JF, Susong DD, Green JR (2002) Atmospheric mercury deposition during the last 270 years: a glacial ice core of natural and anthropogenic sources. Environ Sci Technol 36:2303–2310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thevenon F, de Alencastro LF, Loizeau, J-L, Adatte T, Grandjean D, Wildi W, Poté J (2013) A high-resolution historical sediment record of nutrients, trace elements and organochlorines (DDT and PCB) deposition in a drinking water reservoir (Lake Brêt, Switzerland) points at local and regional pollutant sources. Chemosphere 90:2444–2452

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Metre PC, Fuller CC (2009) Dual-core mass-balance approach for evaluating mercury and 210Pb atmospheric fallout and focusing to lakes. Environ Sci Technol 43:26–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Metre PC, Mahler BJ (2005) Trends in hydrophobic organic contaminants in urban and reference lake sediments across the United States, 1970–2001. Environ Sci Technol 39:5567–5574

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Metre PC, Mahler BJ (2010) Contribution of PAHs from coal–tar pavement sealcoat and other sources to 40 US lakes. Sci Total Environ 409:334–344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Metre PC, Callender E, Fuller CC (1997) Historical trends in organochlorine compounds in river basins identified using sediment cores from reservoirs. Environ Sci Technol 31:2339–2344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Metre PC, Mahler BJ (2014) PAH concentrations in lake sediment decline following ban on coal-tar-based pavement sealants in Austin, Texas. Environ Sci Technol 48:7222–7228

    Google Scholar 

  • Zastepa A (2013) Fate and persistence of microcystin congeners in lakes and lake sediments. PhD thesis, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jules M. Blais .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Blais, J., Rosen, M., Smol, J. (2015). Using Natural Archives to Track Sources and Long-Term Trends of Pollution: Some Final Thoughts and Suggestions for Future Directions. In: Blais, J., Rosen, M., Smol, J. (eds) Environmental Contaminants. Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research, vol 18. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9541-8_17

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics