ENRICHMENTS OF ZINC, LEAD, AND COPPER IN RECENT SEDIMENTS OF WINDERMERE, ENGLAND

The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, Al, S, Fe, and Mn were determined in sediment cores from Windermere, N.W. England. Zn, Pb, and Cu are greatly enriched in sediments deposited during the last ca. 130 years. Maximum concentrations are 1180 ppm of Zn, 589 ppm of Pb, and 140 ppm of Cu compared to baseline concentrations of 160, 56, and 24 ppm, respectively. Known sedimentation rates have been used together with the measured concentrations to calculate fluxes of the three metals into the lake sediments. Present-day anthropogenic fluxes (total-baseline) are estimated to be 16.9, 9.9, and 1.8 /ug-cm_2-yr_1 for Zn, Pb, and Cu, respectively. Metal sources and transport mechanisms within the lake are discussed, where possible quantitatively. It appears that atmospheric supply of the metals and uptake by diatoms may be important factors in controlling sediment concentrations. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.