Black carbon in Slovenian alpine lacustrine sediments

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 46; no. 8; pp. 1225 - 1234
• Main Authors: Muri, G., Cermelj, B., Faganeli, J., Brancelj, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Alps; Altitude; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Black carbon; Carbon - analysis; Carbon - chemistry; Environmental Monitoring; Eutrophication; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Lacustrine sediments; Lead Radioisotopes - analysis; Organic carbon; Pollution; Slovenia; Water; Alps; Europe; Slovenia; Organic carbon; Alps; Black carbon; Lacustrine sediments; Geochronology; Chemical analysis; Atmospheric fallout; Combustion; Lake sediments; Carbon; Case history; Indicator; Content; Vertical profile; Pollution source; Fossil fuel; Air pollution; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/S0045-6535(01)00295-8

Black carbon (BC) contents were measured in recent sediments in five high altitude remote alpine lakes, i.e. Lake Krisko Sup., Lake Ledvica, Lake Planina, Lake Krn and Lovrensko Lake, and the eutrophic subalpine Lake Bled in Slovenia to follow the history of atmospheric pollution of fossil fuel and local biomass burning in Alps. Organic carbon (OC), its 13 C values, total nitrogen and sedimentation rates using 210 Pb activity data were also measured. The highest BC contents, reaching 20 mg/gdw, were noted in remote alpine lakes while in the subalpine Lake Bled sediment the concentrations were lower reaching 5 mg/gdw. Lower BC/OC ratios, ranging between 4% and 8%, were typical for remote alpine lakes and increased to about 10% in subalpine Lake Bled. The latter clearly shows the marked importance of local direct pollution sources in comparison to remote atmospheric input which decreases in a W–E direction in parallel with decreasing amounts of precipitation. Based on 210 Pb sedimentation data, the minimal BC accumulation rates in sediment cores were detected in the pre-industrialisation period. In the last decades of 20th century the BC contents decreased probably due to reduced emission of pollutants.