Historical reconstruction of anthropogenic lead pollution in Lake Yangzong, Yunnan province, southwest China

Abstract

Abstract Lake Yangzong, one of nine lakes in Yunnan Province, has experienced both steady and instantaneous inputs of heavy metals during the past several decades. During this study, the chronology of lead (Pb) pollution was analyzed by extracting a 60 cm long sediment core from the center of the lake, dating the sediments using 120Pb and 137Cs methods and analyzing the sediments for lead concentrations. The atmospheric deposition of Pb was predominately related to coal and ore consumption from a nearby aluminum manufacturer and thermal power plant and it may be considered non-point source pollutants. Combining the results of Pb isotopic compositions and Pb concentration and Igeo value, we deduced that the anthropogenic Pb was primarily be attributed to regional emissions from non-ferrous metal production industries.