We have reconstructed the mercury and lead atmospheric deposition in NE Spain during the last 700 years using the concentration of these pollutants in lake sediments from the Pyrenees (Lake Montcortès). The main source of atmospheric mercury deposited in the lake is related to the mercury production in Almadén (the world´s largest mercury mine). Lead pollution is related to local mining activities in the Pyrenees and the use of leaded gasoline during the second half of the 20th century. This study highlights the sensitiveness of lake sediments to atmospheric pollution from a historical perspective.
The attached figure (linked to a bigger one) shows the Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) deposition rates since the 14th century, and their relationship to i) mercury production in Almadén, ii) local galena mining in the Pyrenees, and iii) the period using leaded gasoline in Europe (between 1950 and 1990).
Corella, J.P., Valero-Garcés, B.L., Wang, F., Martínez-Cortizas, A., Cuevas, C.A., Saiz-Lopez, A. “700 years reconstruction of mercury and lead atmospheric deposition in the Pyrenees (NE Spain)”. Atmospheric Environment (2017) 155, 97-107. (doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.02.018)