Arsenic (As) concentrations and deposition fluxes were measured in snow and rime at 10 mountain-top sites near the borders between the Czech Republic and Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia during three consecutive winter seasons (2009-2011). Our study was performed at a time following several decades of sharply decreasing regional atmospheric pollution and following the 2006 implementation of stricter air quality standards across Europe. Our objective was to compare vertical and horizontal depositions of soluble and insoluble As forms throughout the Czech Republic and define a recent Central European As pollution gradient. Arsenic soluble in weak nitric acid contributed 83 to 85% to the total As deposition, with the remaining 17-15% bound to stable particulate forms. The highest As deposition rates were recorded in the eastern Czech Republic near the borders with Poland and Slovakia. Complementary hydrochemical monitoring in four mountain-slope catchments situated near selected main study sites revealed a further decrease in open-area As deposition by the end of 2018 in the east of the country. In contrast, spruce canopy throughfall flux did not change significantly between 2009-2011 and 2016-2018. The site-specific relative roles of coal-burning-derived and ore-smelting-derived atmospheric As are discussed.
- MeSH
- arsen * analýza MeSH
- ekosystém MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch * analýza MeSH
- lesy MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
- roční období MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Evropa MeSH
- Německo MeSH
- Polsko MeSH
- Rakousko MeSH
- Slovenská republika MeSH
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) isotope ratios can be used to fingerprint sources and dispersion pathways of pollutants in the environment. Little is known, however, about the potential of δ(65)Cu and δ(66)Zn values in liquid and solid forms of atmospheric deposition to distinguish between geogenic, industrial, local and remote sources of these potentially toxic base metals. Here we present Cu-Zn deposition fluxes at 10 mountain-top sites in the Czech Republic, a region affected by extremely high industrial emission rates 25 years ago. Additionally, we monitored isotope composition of Cu and Zn in vertical and horizontal atmospheric deposition at two sites. We compared δ(65)Cu and δ(66)Zn values in snow and rime, extracted by diluted HNO3 and concentrated HF. Cu and Zn isotope signatures of industrial pollution sources were also determined. Cu and Zn deposition fluxes at all study sites were minute. The mean δ(65)Cu value of atmospheric deposition (-0.07‰) was higher than the mean δ(65)Cu value of pollution sources (-1.17‰). The variability in δ(65)Cu values of atmospheric deposition was lower, compared to the pollution sources. The mean δ(66)Zn value of atmospheric deposition (-0.09‰) was slightly higher than the mean δ(66)Zn value of pollution sources (-0.23‰). The variability in δ(66)Zn values of atmospheric deposition was indistinguishable from that of pollution sources. The largest isotope differences (0.35‰) were observed between the insoluble and soluble fractions of atmospheric deposition. These differences may result from different sources of Cu/Zn for each fraction. The difference in isotope composition of soluble and insoluble particles appears to be a promising tool for pollution provenance studies in Central Europe.
Carcinogenic effects of hexavalent chromium in waters are of concern in many countries worldwide. We explored Cr isotope systematics at 11 sites in the Czech Republic and Poland. Geogenic Cr pollution was associated with serpentinite bodies at former convergent plate margins, while anthropogenic Cr pollution resulted from electroplating, tanning, and the chemical industry. Cr(VI) concentration in geogenic waters was less than 40 ppb. Anthropogenic waters contained up to 127,000 ppb Cr(VI). At both geogenic and anthropogenic sites, where known, the source of pollution had a low δ53Cr (<1‰). δ53Cr of geogenic and anthropogenic waters was up to 3.9 and 5.8‰, respectively. At both serpentinite-dominated and industrial sites, δ53Cr(VI)aq was shifted toward higher values, compared to the pollution source. At the industrial sites, this positive δ53Cr shift was related to Cr(VI) reduction, a process known to fractionate Cr isotopes. At geogenic sites, the origin of high δ53Cr(VI)aq is tentatively ascribed to preferential release of 53Cr during oxidation of soil Cr(III) and its mobilization to water. δ53Cr(VI) of industrially contaminated waters was significantly higher (p<0.001) compared to δ53Cr of waters carrying geogenic Cr(VI), implying that either the effective fractionation factor or process extent was greater for Cr(VI) reduction than for Cr(III) oxidation.
- MeSH
- chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza MeSH
- chrom analýza chemie MeSH
- izotopy chromu analýza chemie MeSH
- látky znečišťující půdu analýza MeSH
- průmyslový odpad analýza MeSH
- znečištění životního prostředí analýza MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
