Abstract
Unlike in the North Atlantic, no continuous record of anthropogenic lead (Pb) has been available in the western Pacific. We reconstructed historical changes in anthropogenic Pb on the basis of Pb isotope ratios recorded in annually-banded coral retrieved from Ogasawara Island, Japan. Whereas the predominant natural source of Pb to the surface of the western Pacific apparently is Chinese loess, anthropogenic Pb has affected the western Pacific at least since the late 19th century. From the late 19th to the early 20th century, Australian Pb used in Japan was an important source of anthropogenic Pb. During 1920-1940, Pb emitted from parts of the world other than Japan contributed somewhat to the western Pacific, and the amount of Pb imported from Australia declined. Alkyl Pb used in Japan became the main source from 1950 until the mid-1970s, when leaded gasoline began to be regulated in Japan. Since the mid-1980s, aerosols from China have been the predominant source of Pb in the western Pacific. During the 1990s, around 60% of Pb in the surface of the western Pacific was from Chinese aerosols. We also investigated the present spatial distribution and likely sources of Pb in the western Pacific by using coral samples. Enrichment in 208Pb, which is a characteristic of Pb from China, was found in all coral samples except that from Pohnpei, Micronesia, suggesting that at present anthropogenic Pb is transported to the western Pacific mainly from China via westerly winds.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 123-130 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
| Volume | 406 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 15 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Annual bands
- Anthropogenic lead
- Coral
- Western Pacific
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Chemistry
- Pollution
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Environmental Engineering
Cite this
Anthropogenic lead inputs to the western Pacific during the 20th century. / Takeuchi, Mayuri; Tanimizu, Masaharu.
In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 406, No. 1-2, 15.11.2008, p. 123-130.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Anthropogenic lead inputs to the western Pacific during the 20th century
AU - Takeuchi, Mayuri
AU - Tanimizu, Masaharu
PY - 2008/11/15
Y1 - 2008/11/15
N2 - Unlike in the North Atlantic, no continuous record of anthropogenic lead (Pb) has been available in the western Pacific. We reconstructed historical changes in anthropogenic Pb on the basis of Pb isotope ratios recorded in annually-banded coral retrieved from Ogasawara Island, Japan. Whereas the predominant natural source of Pb to the surface of the western Pacific apparently is Chinese loess, anthropogenic Pb has affected the western Pacific at least since the late 19th century. From the late 19th to the early 20th century, Australian Pb used in Japan was an important source of anthropogenic Pb. During 1920-1940, Pb emitted from parts of the world other than Japan contributed somewhat to the western Pacific, and the amount of Pb imported from Australia declined. Alkyl Pb used in Japan became the main source from 1950 until the mid-1970s, when leaded gasoline began to be regulated in Japan. Since the mid-1980s, aerosols from China have been the predominant source of Pb in the western Pacific. During the 1990s, around 60% of Pb in the surface of the western Pacific was from Chinese aerosols. We also investigated the present spatial distribution and likely sources of Pb in the western Pacific by using coral samples. Enrichment in 208Pb, which is a characteristic of Pb from China, was found in all coral samples except that from Pohnpei, Micronesia, suggesting that at present anthropogenic Pb is transported to the western Pacific mainly from China via westerly winds.
AB - Unlike in the North Atlantic, no continuous record of anthropogenic lead (Pb) has been available in the western Pacific. We reconstructed historical changes in anthropogenic Pb on the basis of Pb isotope ratios recorded in annually-banded coral retrieved from Ogasawara Island, Japan. Whereas the predominant natural source of Pb to the surface of the western Pacific apparently is Chinese loess, anthropogenic Pb has affected the western Pacific at least since the late 19th century. From the late 19th to the early 20th century, Australian Pb used in Japan was an important source of anthropogenic Pb. During 1920-1940, Pb emitted from parts of the world other than Japan contributed somewhat to the western Pacific, and the amount of Pb imported from Australia declined. Alkyl Pb used in Japan became the main source from 1950 until the mid-1970s, when leaded gasoline began to be regulated in Japan. Since the mid-1980s, aerosols from China have been the predominant source of Pb in the western Pacific. During the 1990s, around 60% of Pb in the surface of the western Pacific was from Chinese aerosols. We also investigated the present spatial distribution and likely sources of Pb in the western Pacific by using coral samples. Enrichment in 208Pb, which is a characteristic of Pb from China, was found in all coral samples except that from Pohnpei, Micronesia, suggesting that at present anthropogenic Pb is transported to the western Pacific mainly from China via westerly winds.
KW - Annual bands
KW - Anthropogenic lead
KW - Coral
KW - Western Pacific
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=53049099578&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=53049099578&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.07.032
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.07.032
M3 - Article
C2 - 18775557
AN - SCOPUS:53049099578
VL - 406
SP - 123
EP - 130
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
SN - 0048-9697
IS - 1-2
ER -