『Abstract
An environmental geochemistry approach was applied in response
to health concerns about present day and past exposure to pollutants
within Broome County, New York by determining historical records
of anthropogenic activities as preserved in sediment cores. Sediment
was collected from a stormwater retention pond adjacent to a warehouse
complex in the urban community of Hillcrest as well as from 3
other ponds in rural locations in Broome County. Metal concentrations
and decay products of 210Pb and 137Cs were
measured to determine the timing of source specific differences
in the distribution of metals in the sediment cores. Concentrations
of Zn, Pb, Ni, C, Cr, Cd and As were elevated in the retention
pond sediments when compared to sediment from other locations.
Topography influenced atmospheric transport and deposition of
pollutants within incised river valleys and enhanced runoff from
impervious surfaces within an urban watershed contributed to the
elevated metal concentrations at Hillcrest. Temporal changes in
Pb deposition within retention pond sediment mimic the rise and
fall in se of leaded gasoline. Arsenic concentrations decreased
following placement of emission controls on nearby coal-fired
power plant sources. Superimposed over the temporal trends of
Pb and As are co-varying Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr and Cd concentrations;
a suite of metals commonly used in metal plating processes by
local industries. Analysis of sediment in stormwater retention
ponds in other urban areas may provide opportunities for detailed
records of pollution history to be obtained in many communities.
Residents in urban communities located in incised river valley
locations similar to Hillcrest may be particularly prone to enhanced
exposure to metals from anthropogenic sources.』
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Characteristics of ponds sampled and coring locations
2.2. Core collection, processing and analysis
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Metals sources and regulatory concerns
3.2. Metal concentration and sources in Depot sediment cores
3.3. Metal concentrations and sources in Depot pond sediment
compared with other locations
3.4. Results from acid extractable versus total metal concentrations
3.5. Historical record of pollutant sources in Hillcrest derived
from sediment core DEPOT3
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References