Geochemical evidence (C, N and Pb isotopes) of recent anthropogenic impact in south-central Chile from two environmentally distinct lake sediment records
anthropogenic activity; geochemistry; lead isotopes; lake sediment; Chile
Abstract :
[en] In this paper, we compare the elemental and isotopic (C, N, Pb) geochemistry of lake sediments from two contrasted environments in south-central Chile. The first lake, Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP), is situated in the urbanised area of the Biobio Region (36°S). The second lake, Lago Puyehue (40° S), is located 400 km to the southeast of LCSP and within an Andean national park. Our aim is to identify environmental impacts associated with increasing industrial activities and land degradation during the last 150 a. In LCSP, shifts in C/N atomic ratios, 13C and 15N from 1915-1937 to the late 1980s are attributed to successive land degradation episodes in the lake watershed. Based on a Pb isotopic mixing model, we estimate that up to 20% of lead in LCSP sediments is supplied from urban atmospheric pollution. By contrast, human impact in the watershed of Lago Puyehue is very limited. We observe no change in organic geochemistry during the last 150 a and lead contamination remains lower than 5%, even during the last decades. Although contamination levels are much higher in LCSP than in Lago Puyehue, a peak in anthropogenic Pb is recorded during the same period (1974-1976) at both sites. This maximum contamination level is consistent with increased industrial activity in the vicinity of Concepción.
Research Center/Unit :
FNRS
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Fagel, Nathalie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Argiles, géochimie et environnements sédimentaires
Bertrand, Sebastien
Mattielli, Nadine
Gilson, Delphine
Chirinos, Luis
Lepoint, Gilles ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Urrutia, Roberto
Language :
English
Title :
Geochemical evidence (C, N and Pb isotopes) of recent anthropogenic impact in south-central Chile from two environmentally distinct lake sediment records
Publication date :
2010
Journal title :
Journal of Quaternary Science
ISSN :
0267-8179
eISSN :
1099-1417
Publisher :
John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Volume :
25
Issue :
7
Pages :
1100-1112
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
WBI - Wallonie-Bruxelles International FONDECYT - Chile Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico
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