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ICP-MS measurements of lead isotopic ratios in soils heavily contaminated by lead smelting: tracing the sources of pollution

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Abstract

The Pb isotopic composition (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/206Pb) in smelter-impacted soils was measured using a quadrupole-based ICP-MS. Four forest/tilled soil profiles were sampled according to the distance from the lead smelter in Příbram (Czech Republic), prevailing wind direction, geological background and soil type. The results were compared with the Pb isotopic composition of bedrocks and waste materials from Pb metallurgy (smelting slags, air-pollution-control residues). The isotopic composition of soils confirms the predominant role of metallurgy on the general pollution in the area. The highly contaminated soils from the vicinity of the smelter contain up to 35,300 mg Pb kg−1 and exhibit an isotopic composition close to that of car battery processing (206Pb/207Pb up to 1.177). A coupled concentration/isotopic study of soil profiles showed that the smelter-induced pollution had penetrated even to the mineral soil horizons, indicating an important vertical mobility of Pb contaminant within the soil profile. The calculated downward penetration rate of Pb in soils ranges from 0.3 to 0.36 cm year−1.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financed by the research project FRVŠ 2271/2002 and by Charles University (J13/98:113100005). The authors thank Zdeněk Kunický, Technical Director of the Příbram Smelter (Kovohutě Příbram) for facilitating sampling of soils and waste materials from lead metallurgy. Marek Chvátal (Charles University) is acknowledged for the sample of galena from the Příbram district and Dr Ondřej Šebek for help with FAAS analyses. Dr Martin Novák (Czech Geological Survey) is thanked for a fruitful discussion. The reviews of two anonymous referees helped to improve the first version of the manuscript.

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  1. Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic

    Vojtěch Ettler, Martin Mihaljevič & Michael Komárek

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  1. Vojtěch Ettler
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  2. Martin Mihaljevič
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  3. Michael Komárek
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Correspondence to Vojtěch Ettler.

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Ettler, V., Mihaljevič, M. & Komárek, M. ICP-MS measurements of lead isotopic ratios in soils heavily contaminated by lead smelting: tracing the sources of pollution. Anal Bioanal Chem 378, 311–317 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2229-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2229-y

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