Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control
Recent snow from two sites in the Antarctic Peninsula has been analyzed for Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Measurement of full procedural blanks and of the extent of penetration of surface contamination has allowed a rigorous appraisal of both sampling and analytical methods. Whilst the particular samples o...
Published in: | Annals of Glaciology |
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International Glaciological Society
1985
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523526/ https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:523526 2023-05-15T13:29:27+02:00 Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control Wolff, Eric W. Peel, D.A. 1985 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523526/ https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929 unknown International Glaciological Society Wolff, Eric W.; Peel, D.A. 1985 Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control. Annals of Glaciology, 7. 61-69. https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929 <https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 1985 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929 2023-02-04T19:48:28Z Recent snow from two sites in the Antarctic Peninsula has been analyzed for Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Measurement of full procedural blanks and of the extent of penetration of surface contamination has allowed a rigorous appraisal of both sampling and analytical methods. Whilst the particular samples of cored firn used here have been shown to be unsuitable due to penetration of surface contamination into their interiors, surface samples collected directly into acrylic tubes showed very limited penetration of contamination. The surface samples gave the following average concentrations: Al: 0.7±0.3 ng g−1, Cd: 0.26±0.09 pg g−1, Cu: 1.9±0.5 pg g−1, Pb: 6.3±3.3 pg g−1 and Zn: 3.3±1.7 pg g−1. The Pb concentration agrees well with data from other workers for recent snow from East Antarctica, while the values for Cd, Cu and Zn are about ten times lower than have been reported previously, even for ancient Antarctic ice. Although these data refer to only one site and a short time period, it is believed that they are representative of modern Antarctic snow. The true concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in ancient Antarctic ice are not yet established. However the following limits are suggested for increases over natural background levels due to anthropogenic emissions: Pb 1 to 40 times, Cd 1 to 180 times, Cu 1 to 4.5 times and Zn 1 to 6 times. These results indicate that contamination may have been responsible for reports of anomalous enrichment of several heavy metals in Antarctic snow. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica East Antarctica Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula East Antarctica Annals of Glaciology 7 61 69 |
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Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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Recent snow from two sites in the Antarctic Peninsula has been analyzed for Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Measurement of full procedural blanks and of the extent of penetration of surface contamination has allowed a rigorous appraisal of both sampling and analytical methods. Whilst the particular samples of cored firn used here have been shown to be unsuitable due to penetration of surface contamination into their interiors, surface samples collected directly into acrylic tubes showed very limited penetration of contamination. The surface samples gave the following average concentrations: Al: 0.7±0.3 ng g−1, Cd: 0.26±0.09 pg g−1, Cu: 1.9±0.5 pg g−1, Pb: 6.3±3.3 pg g−1 and Zn: 3.3±1.7 pg g−1. The Pb concentration agrees well with data from other workers for recent snow from East Antarctica, while the values for Cd, Cu and Zn are about ten times lower than have been reported previously, even for ancient Antarctic ice. Although these data refer to only one site and a short time period, it is believed that they are representative of modern Antarctic snow. The true concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in ancient Antarctic ice are not yet established. However the following limits are suggested for increases over natural background levels due to anthropogenic emissions: Pb 1 to 40 times, Cd 1 to 180 times, Cu 1 to 4.5 times and Zn 1 to 6 times. These results indicate that contamination may have been responsible for reports of anomalous enrichment of several heavy metals in Antarctic snow. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Wolff, Eric W. Peel, D.A. |
spellingShingle |
Wolff, Eric W. Peel, D.A. Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control |
author_facet |
Wolff, Eric W. Peel, D.A. |
author_sort |
Wolff, Eric W. |
title |
Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control |
title_short |
Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control |
title_full |
Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control |
title_fullStr |
Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control |
title_full_unstemmed |
Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control |
title_sort |
closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent antarctic snow by improved contamination control |
publisher |
International Glaciological Society |
publishDate |
1985 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523526/ https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula East Antarctica |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula East Antarctica |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica East Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica East Antarctica |
op_relation |
Wolff, Eric W.; Peel, D.A. 1985 Closer to a true value for heavy metal concentrations in recent Antarctic snow by improved contamination control. Annals of Glaciology, 7. 61-69. https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929 <https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500005929 |
container_title |
Annals of Glaciology |
container_volume |
7 |
container_start_page |
61 |
op_container_end_page |
69 |
_version_ |
1766000744230551552 |