title: Trace metals in upland headwater lakes in Ireland.
abstract: Trace elements (n = 23) in Irish headwater lakes (n = 126) were investigated to determine their ambient concentrations, fractionation (total, dissolved, and non-labile), and geochemical controls. Lakes were generally located in remote upland, acid-sensitive regions along the coastal margins of the country. Total trace metal concentrations were low, within the range of natural pristine surface waters; however, some lakes (~20 %) had inorganic labile aluminum and manganese at levels potentially harmful to aquatic organisms. Redundancy analysis indicated that geochemical weathering was the dominant controlling factor for total metals, compared with acidity for dissolved metals. In addition, many metals were positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon indicating their affinity (or complexation) with humic substances (e.g., aluminum, iron, mercury, lead). However, a number of trace metals (e.g., aluminum, mercury, zinc) were correlated with anthropogenic acidic deposition (i.e., non-marine sulfate), suggesting atmospheric sources or elevated leaching owing to acidic deposition. As transboundary air pollution continues to decline, significant changes in the cycling of trace metals is anticipated.
authors: Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, Canada, andrewburton@trentu.ca.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Burton
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Aherne
authors: Nouri
authors: N
authors: Hassan
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D007494:Ireland; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical