Spatio-temporal accumulation and sources of anthropogenic Pb in Ulleung Basin sediments, East/Japan Sea, based on stable Pb isotope ratios

The accumulation, pathways, and sources of anthropogenic lead (Pb) in Ulleung Basin sediments were investigated based on the temporal and spatial variations in the Pb concentration and stable Pb isotopes for 21 dated box core sediments collected from the shelf, slope, and basin in the southern East/Japan Sea. Leached (1 M HCl) Pb concentrations and isotope ratios (Pb-207/Pb-206 and Pb-208/Pb-206) were nearly constant before 1930, but have increased rapidly until the present. The primary source of anthropogenic Pb is considered to be atmospheric deposition, showing the signature of a mixture of leaded gasoline and coals, which was the major anthropogenic source in the basin. However, after the 1990s, anthropogenic Pb from dumping materials added as much as 10-25% to the slope sediment and has been spreading out from the water column accompanied by the movement of the East Sea Intermediate Water. In shelf areas, inputs from nonferrous refineries in the coastal industrial complexes play an important role in pollution from anthropogenic Pb.

Automated summary

The study investigated the accumulation, pathways, and sources of anthropogenic lead (Pb) in Ulleung Basin sediments. The results showed that leached Pb concentrations and isotope ratios were stable before 1930 but increased rapidly afterwards. The primary source of anthropogenic Pb was found to be atmospheric deposition of leaded gasoline and coals, but dumping materials added significant amounts of Pb to slope sediments after the 1990s.