Lead and lead isotopes in agricultural soils of Europe – The continental perspective

• Published in: Applied geochemistry Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 532 - 542
• Main Authors: Reimann, Clemens, Flem, Belinda, Fabian, Karl, Birke, Manfred, Ladenberger, Anna, Négrel, Philippe, Demetriades, Alecos, Hoogewerff, Jurian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: agricultural soils; climate; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Sciences; Europe; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Global Changes; isotopes; landscapes; lead; melting; mineralization; monitoring; Pollution, environment geology; Sciences of the Universe; sediments; soil sampling; Europe; landscapes; maps; density; mineral exploration; concentration; climate; variability; anomalies; lead; contamination; new data; isotopes; dating; melts; soils; policy
• ISSN: 0883-2927; 1872-9134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.12.012

► Pb concentrations are reported in agricultural soils at the European scale. ► A map of a Pb isotope ratio landscape covering a continent is presented. ► Results define the soil geochemical Pb background for Europe. ► Baseline data for forensic and environmental studies are provided. Lead isotopes are widely used for age dating, for tracking sources of melts, sediments, Pb products, food and animals and for studying atmospheric Pb contamination. For the first time, a map of a Pb isotope landscape at the continental-scale is presented. Agricultural soil samples (Ap-horizon, 0–20cm) collected at an average density of 1 site/2500km2 were analysed for Pb concentration and Pb isotopes (206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb). Lead concentrations vary from 1.6 to 1309mg/kg, with a median of 16mg/kg. Isotopic ratios of 206Pb/207Pb range from 1.116 to 1.727 with a median of 1.202. The new data define the soil geochemical Pb background for European agricultural soil, providing crucial information for geological, environmental and forensic sciences, public health, environmental policy and mineral exploration. The European continental-scale patterns of Pb concentrations and Pb isotopes show a high variability dominated by geology and influenced by climate. Lead concentration anomalies mark most of the known mineralised areas throughout Europe. Some local Pb anomalies have a distinct anthropogenic origin.