Unleaded gasoline as a significant source of Pb emissions in the Subarctic

After the phasing out of leaded gasoline, Pb emissions to the atmosphere dramatically decreased, and other sources became more significant. The contribution of unleaded gasoline has not been sufficiently recognized; therefore, we evaluated the impact of Pb from unleaded gasoline in a relatively pris...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2018-02, Vol.193, p.230-236
Main Authors: Chrastný, Vladislav, Šillerová, Hana, Vítková, Martina, Francová, Anna, Jehlička, Jan, Kocourková, Jana, Aspholm, Paul E., Nilsson, Lars O., Berglen, Tore F., Jensen, Henning K.B., Komárek, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmosphere - chemistry
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Pollutants - analysis
Gasoline - analysis
Isotopes - analysis
Lead - analysis
Lichens
Lichens - chemistry
Norway
Pb contamination
Pb isotopes
Russia
Snow - chemistry
Snow samples
Unleaded gasoline
Vehicle Emissions - analysis
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Summary:After the phasing out of leaded gasoline, Pb emissions to the atmosphere dramatically decreased, and other sources became more significant. The contribution of unleaded gasoline has not been sufficiently recognized; therefore, we evaluated the impact of Pb from unleaded gasoline in a relatively pristine area in Subarctic NE Norway. The influence of different endmembers (Ni slag and concentrate from the Nikel smelter in Russia, PM10 filters, and traffic) on the overall Pb emissions was determined using various environmental samples (snow, lichens, and topsoils) and Pb isotope tracing. We found a strong relationship between Pb in snow and the Ni smelter. However, lichen samples and most of the topsoils were contaminated by Pb originating from the current use of unleaded gasoline originating from Russia. Historical leaded and recent unleaded gasoline are fully distinguishable using Pb isotopes, as unleaded gasoline is characterized by a low radiogenic composition (206Pb/207Pb = 1.098 and 208Pb/206Pb = 2.060) and remains an unneglectable source of Pb in the region. •Unleaded gasoline and diesel remain a source of atmospheric Pb.•Lichens were suitable bioindicators for this purpose.•Snow and lichen samples exhibited different contamination pathways and sources.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.031