Lead isotopic compositions of ash sourced from Australian bushfires.
This study identifies natural and industrial lead remobilized in ash deposits from three bushfires in relatively pristine areas of Australia in 2011 using lead isotopic compositions ((208)Pb/(207)Pb; (206)Pb/(207)Pb). Lead concentrations in the ash ranged from 1 to 36 mg/kg, bracketing the range of lead (4-23 mg/kg) in surface soils (0-2 cm), subsurface (40-50 cm) soils and rocks. The lead isotopic compositions of ash and surface soil samples were compared to subsurface soils and local bedrock samples. The data show that many of the ash and surface soil lead isotopic compositions were a mixture of natural lead and legacy industrial lead depositions (such as leaded petrol combustion). However, some of the ash samples at each of the sites had lead isotopic compositions that did not fit a simple two end-member mixing model, indicating other, unidentified sources.
Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2159, Australia.
Louise J
LJ
Kristensen
Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2159, Australia. Electronic address: mark.taylor@mq.edu.au.
Mark Patrick
MP
Taylor
Environmental Toxicology, WIGS Laboratory, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
Kingsley O
KO
Odigie
Environmental Toxicology, WIGS Laboratory, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
Sharon A
SA
Hibdon
Environmental Toxicology, WIGS Laboratory, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
A Russell
AR
Flegal
D001315:Australia; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005390:Fires; D007221:Industry; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D053260:Soot / Q000737:chemistry*
D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D053260:Soot; D007854:Lead
Ash; Lead isotopic composition; Wildfires