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Lead in Lake Michigan and Green Bay Surficial Sediments
Citation:
PFEIFFER, E. L. AND R. ROSSMANN. Lead in Lake Michigan and Green Bay Surficial Sediments. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH. International Association for Great Lakes Research, Ann Arbor, MI, 36(1):20-27, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
Sediment cores were collected in 1987-1989 in Green Bay using a box corer and in 1994-1996 in Lake Michigan using a box corer and a PONAR. Core samples were segmented and dated. Historic background lead concentrations were determined for Green Bay (range=1.8-39.3 mg/kg, mean=14 mg/kg) and Lake Michigan (range=11-26 mg/kg, mean=16 mg/kg) and were exceeded first in the southern basins of Lake Michigan, in the early 1800s, and were not exceeded in Green Bay until the early 1900s. Nearshore cores show correlation in variations of concentration to socio-political events over time, especially consumption of leaded gasoline and Mississippi Valley Pb-Zn mining. Cores from basins show small-scale sensitivity to variations in mining and regional use of lead; however, they also correlate to population growth in the Lake Michigan region, indicating an anthropogenic source.
Description:
Sediment cores were collected in 1987-1989 in Green Bay using a box corer and in 1994-1996 in Lake Michigan using a box corer and a PONAR. Core samples were segmented and dated. Historic background lead concentrations were determined for Green Bay (range=1.8-39.3 mg/kg, mean=14 mg/kg) and Lake Michigan (range=11-26 mg/kg, mean=16 mg/kg) and were exceeded first in the southern basins of Lake Michigan, in the early 1800s, and were not exceeded in Green Bay until the early 1900s. Nearshore cores show correlation in variations of concentration to socio-political events over time, especially consumption of leaded gasoline and Mississippi Valley Pb-Zn mining. Cores from basins show small-scale sensitivity to variations in mining and regional use of lead; however, they also correlate to population growth in the Lake Michigan region, indicating an anthropogenic source.