PB-210 CHRONOLOGY IN RELATION TO LEVELS OF ELEMENTS IN DATED SEDIMENT CORE PROFILES

This paper describes the use of 210Pb-210Po chronology to determine sedimentation rates in the Severn (Swansea Bay, Bridgwater Bay, Newport Deep) and Tamar estuaries of the United Kingdom. Samples taken from Swansea Bay and the Tamar show a significant decrease in the specific radioactivity of 210Pb with depth while samples from Newport Deep and Bridgwater Bay did not show this feature-instead the 210Pb activity tended to be constant. Attempts are made to confirm the derived sedimentation rates using other data, such as lead isotopic compositions and the industrial history of the areas. These have been partially successful, but there is still a need for an unequivocal means of confirmation. © 1979.