Widespread waterborne pollution in central Swedish lakes and the Baltic Sea from pre-industrial mining and metallurgy.
Metal pollution is viewed as a modern problem that began in the 19th century and accelerated through the 20th century; however, in many parts of the globe this view is wrong. Here, we studied past waterborne metal pollution in lake sediments from the Bergslagen region in central Sweden, one of many historically important mining regions in Europe. With a focus on lead (including isotopes), we trace mining impacts from a local scale, through a 120-km-long river system draining into Mälaren--Sweden's third largest lake, and finally also the Baltic Sea. Comparison of sediment and peat records shows that pollution from Swedish mining was largely waterborne and that atmospheric deposition was dominated by long-range transport from other regions. Swedish ore lead is detectable from the 10th century, but the greatest impact occurred during the 16th-18th centuries with improvements occurring over recent centuries, i.e., historical pollution > modern industrial pollution.
Bindler
Richard
R
Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. richard.bindler@emg.umu.se
Renberg
Ingemar
I
Rydberg
Johan
J
Andrén
Thomas
T
D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005618:Fresh Water; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000266:history*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history*; D008906:Mining / Q000266:history*; D009659:North Sea; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013548:Sweden; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history*
D007554:Isotopes; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury