title: Antarctic-wide array of high-resolution ice core records reveals pervasive lead pollution began in 1889 and persists today.
abstract: Interior Antarctica is among the most remote places on Earth and was thought to be beyond the reach of human impacts when Amundsen and Scott raced to the South Pole in 1911. Here we show detailed measurements from an extensive array of 16 ice cores quantifying substantial toxic heavy metal lead pollution at South Pole and throughout Antarctica by 1889 - beating polar explorers by more than 22 years. Unlike the Arctic where lead pollution peaked in the 1970s, lead pollution in Antarctica was as high in the early 20(th) century as at any time since industrialization. The similar timing and magnitude of changes in lead deposition across Antarctica, as well as the characteristic isotopic signature of Broken Hill lead found throughout the continent, suggest that this single emission source in southern Australia was responsible for the introduction of lead pollution into Antarctica at the end of the 19(th) century and remains a significant source today. An estimated 660 t of industrial lead have been deposited over Antarctica during the past 130 years as a result of mid-latitude industrial emissions, with regional-to-global scale circulation likely modulating aerosol concentrations. Despite abatement efforts, significant lead pollution in Antarctica persists into the 21(st) century.
authors: Desert Research Institute, USA.
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: McConnell
authors: Desert Research Institute, USA.
authors: O J
authors: OJ
authors: Maselli
authors: Desert Research Institute, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sigl
authors: Centre for Ice and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Vallelonga
authors: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Neumann
authors: Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Anschütz
authors: University of California, Merced, USA.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Bales
authors: Australian Antarctic Division, Australia.
authors: M A J
authors: MA
authors: Curran
authors: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA.
authors: S B
authors: SB
authors: Das
authors: Imaging and Applied Physics, Curtin University, Australia.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Edwards
authors: Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kipfstuhl
authors: Desert Research Institute, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Layman
authors: British Antarctic Survey, UK.
authors: E R
authors: ER
authors: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D017753:Ecosystem; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead