title: Reconstructing historical atmospheric mercury deposition in Western Europe using: Misten peat bog cores, Belgium.
abstract: Four sediment cores were collected in 2008 from the Misten ombrotrophic peat bog in the Northern part of the Hautes Fagnes Plateau in Belgium. Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were analyzed to investigate the intra-site variability in atmospheric Hg deposition over the past 1,500 years. Mercury concentrations in the four cores ranged from 16 to 1,100 μg kg(-1), with the maxima between 840 and 1,100 μg kg(-1). A chronological framework was established using radiometric (210)Pb and (14)C dating of two cores (M1 and M4). Pollen horizons from these two cores were correlated with data from two additional cores, providing a consistent dating framework between all the sites. There was good agreement between atmospheric Hg accumulation rates in the four cores over time based on precise age dating and pollen chronosequences. The average Hg accumulation rate before the influence of human activities (from 500 to 1,300 AD) was 1.8 ± 1 μg m(-2)y(-1) (2SD). Maximum Hg accumulation rates ranged from 90 to 200 μg m(-2)y(-1) between 1930 and 1980 AD. During the European-North American Industrial Revolution, the mean Hg accumulation rate exceeded the pre-Industrial values by a factor of 63. Based on comparisons with historical records of anthropogenic activities in Europe and Belgium, the predominant regional anthropogenic sources of Hg during and after the Industrial Revolution were coal burning and smelter Hg emissions. Mercury accumulation rates and chronologies in the Misten cores were consistent with those reported for other European peat records.
authors.affiliation: Argiles, Géochimie et Environnement sédimentaires, Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août B18 Sart Tilman B4000-Liège, Belgium. mallan@doct.ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Gael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Roux
authors.forename: Jeroen E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sonke
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piotrowska
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Streel
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fagel
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001530:Belgium; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; 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; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008628:Mercury