Cu-Zn isotope constraints on the provenance of air pollution in Central Europe: Using soluble and insoluble particles in snow and rime.
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) isotope ratios can be used to fingerprint sources and dispersion pathways of pollutants in the environment. Little is known, however, about the potential of δ65Cu and δ66Zn values in liquid and solid forms of atmospheric deposition to distinguish between geogenic, industrial, local and remote sources of these potentially toxic base metals. Here we present Cu-Zn deposition fluxes at 10 mountain-top sites in the Czech Republic, a region affected by extremely high industrial emission rates 25 years ago. Additionally, we monitored isotope composition of Cu and Zn in vertical and horizontal atmospheric deposition at two sites. We compared δ65Cu and δ66Zn values in snow and rime, extracted by diluted HNO3and concentrated HF. Cu and Zn isotope signatures of industrial pollution sources were also determined. Cu and Zn deposition fluxes at all study sites were minute. The mean δ65Cu value of atmospheric deposition (-0.07‰) was higher than the mean δ65Cu value of pollution sources (-1.17‰). The variability in δ65Cu values of atmospheric deposition was lower, compared to the pollution sources. The mean δ66Zn value of atmospheric deposition (-0.09‰) was slightly higher than the mean δ66Zn value of pollution sources (-0.23‰). The variability in δ66Zn values of atmospheric deposition was indistinguishable from that of pollution sources. The largest isotope differences (0.35‰) were observed between the insoluble and soluble fractions of atmospheric deposition. These differences may result from different sources of Cu/Zn for each fraction. The difference in isotope composition of soluble and insoluble particles appears to be a promising tool for pollution provenance studies in Central Europe.
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic. Electronic address: martin.novak@geology.cz.
Martin
M
Novak
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Adela
A
Sipkova
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Vladislav
V
Chrastny
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Marketa
M
Stepanova
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Petra
P
Voldrichova
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Frantisek
F
Veselovsky
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Eva
E
Prechova
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Vladimir
V
Blaha
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Jan
J
Curik
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Juraj
J
Farkas
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Lucie
L
Erbanova
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Leona
L
Bohdalkova
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Jan
J
Pasava
Division of Geochemistry and Laboratories, Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Jitka
J
Mikova
Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Sokolovska 83, 186 75, Prague 8, Czech Republic.
Arnost
A
Komarek
European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements, 76125, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Michael
M
Krachler
D000397:Air Pollution; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D018153:Czech Republic; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005060:Europe; D007053:Ice; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D012914:Snow / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
D007053:Ice; D007554:Isotopes; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc
Atmosphere; Copper; Isotopes; Pollution; Zinc