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Modern Pollution Signals in Sediments from Windermere, NW England, Determined by Micro-XRF and Lead Isotope Analysis

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Micro-XRF Studies of Sediment Cores

Part of the book series: Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research ((DPER,volume 17))

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Abstract

High resolution geochemical (Itrax micro-XRF and wavelength dispersive XRF) data, radiochronology (210Pb and 137Cs analyses) and ultra-high precision double-spike lead isotope measurements from lacustrine sediment cores are used in combination with historical research of former mining landscapes to investigate modern pollution signals in sediments from Windermere, the largest lake in the English Lake District. The sediment record suggests that while most element concentrations have been stable, there has been a significant increase since the 1930s in lead, zinc and copper concentrations. Double-spike lead isotope measurements reveal a mixture of natural lead, and three major contributory sources of anthropogenic (industrial) lead, comprising gasoline lead, coal combustion lead (from coal-fired steam ships) and lead derived from Carboniferous Pb–Zn mineralisation (mining activities). A number of up-system sediment traps have limited the amount of mining related heavy metals entering Windermere, and as a result, periods of metal workings do not correlate with peaks in heavy metals. Increases could also be due to flood-induced metal inwash or weathering of bedrock in the catchment. Application of these non-destructive and high precision analytical techniques provides new insights into the pollutant depositional history of Windermere.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.uwitec.at

  2. 2.

    http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk

  3. 3.

    http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/nmr

  4. 4.

    http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk

  5. 5.

    http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk

  6. 6.

    http://www.bgs.ac.uk/gbase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    Helen Miller, Ian W. Croudace, Jonathan M. Bull, Justin K. Dix & Rex N. Taylor

  2. British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, EH9 3LA, Edinburgh, UK

    Carol J. Cotterill

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  1. Helen Miller
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  2. Ian W. Croudace
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  4. Carol J. Cotterill
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom

    Ian W. Croudace

  2. National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom

    R. Guy Rothwell

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Miller, H., Croudace, I., Bull, J., Cotterill, C., Dix, J., Taylor, R. (2015). Modern Pollution Signals in Sediments from Windermere, NW England, Determined by Micro-XRF and Lead Isotope Analysis. In: Croudace, I., Rothwell, R. (eds) Micro-XRF Studies of Sediment Cores. Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9849-5_16

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