Return of naturally sourced Pb to Atlantic surface waters

Luke Bridgestock (), Tina van de Flierdt, Mark Rehkämper, Maxence Paul, Rob Middag, Angela Milne, Maeve C. Lohan, Alex R. Baker, Rosie Chance, Roulin Khondoker, Stanislav Strekopytov, Emma Humphreys-Williams, Eric P. Achterberg, Micha J. A. Rijkenberg, Loes J. A. Gerringa and Hein J. W. de Baar
Additional contact information
Luke Bridgestock: Imperial College London
Tina van de Flierdt: Imperial College London
Mark Rehkämper: Imperial College London
Maxence Paul: Imperial College London
Rob Middag: NIWA/University of Otago Research Centre for Oceanography
Angela Milne: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
Maeve C. Lohan: Ocean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton
Alex R. Baker: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia
Rosie Chance: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia
Roulin Khondoker: Imperial College London
Stanislav Strekopytov: Image and Analysis Centre, Natural History Museum
Emma Humphreys-Williams: Image and Analysis Centre, Natural History Museum
Eric P. Achterberg: Geomar-Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research
Micha J. A. Rijkenberg: NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University
Loes J. A. Gerringa: NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University
Hein J. W. de Baar: NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Anthropogenic emissions completely overwhelmed natural marine lead (Pb) sources during the past century, predominantly due to leaded petrol usage. Here, based on Pb isotope measurements, we reassess the importance of natural and anthropogenic Pb sources to the tropical North Atlantic following the nearly complete global cessation of leaded petrol use. Significant proportions of up to 30–50% of natural Pb, derived from mineral dust, are observed in Atlantic surface waters, reflecting the success of the global effort to reduce anthropogenic Pb emissions. The observation of mineral dust derived Pb in surface waters is governed by the elevated atmospheric mineral dust concentration of the North African dust plume and the dominance of dry deposition for the atmospheric aerosol flux to surface waters. Given these specific regional conditions, emissions from anthropogenic activities will remain the dominant global marine Pb source, even in the absence of leaded petrol combustion.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12921

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