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Short-term influence of anthropogenic sources on tropospheric baseline lead

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Abstract

ESTIMATING tropospheric baseline lead requires relatively long collection periods using conventional high volume methods because the airborne concentrations are very low in comparison with levels found in urban areas. During such collections, anthropogenic sources of lead may be present for short periods leading to apparently high results, even at remote locations such as the mid-Pacific Ocean1 and Antarctica2. Significant geographical variations in soil-sized Pb particles were also related to anthropogenic sources affecting the distribution of lead in marine atmospheric particulates3,4. We describe here investigations using furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) of the lead content in the atmosphere around Cape Grim, Tasmania.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, University of Tasmania, Box 252C, G.P.O., Hobart, 7001, Australia

    B. N. NOLLER & H. BLOOM

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  1. B. N. NOLLER
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  2. H. BLOOM
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NOLLER, B., BLOOM, H. Short-term influence of anthropogenic sources on tropospheric baseline lead. Nature 270, 160–162 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270160a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/270160a0

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