scholarly journals Pb pollution from leaded gasoline in South America in the context of a 2000-year metallurgical history

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. e1400196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Eichler ◽  
Gabriela Gramlich ◽  
Thomas Kellerhals ◽  
Leonhard Tobler ◽  
Margit Schwikowski
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Enrichment Factors ◽  
Leaded Gasoline ◽  
Pb Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Andean Altiplano ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Last Two Millennia

Exploitation of the extensive polymetallic deposits of the Andean Altiplano in South America since precolonial times has caused substantial emissions of neurotoxic lead (Pb) into the atmosphere; however, its historical significance compared to recent Pb pollution from leaded gasoline is not yet resolved. We present a comprehensive Pb emission history for the last two millennia for South America, based on a continuous, high-resolution, ice core record from Illimani glacier. Illimani is the highest mountain of the eastern Bolivian Andes and is located at the northeastern margin of the Andean Altiplano. The ice core Pb deposition history revealed enhanced Pb enrichment factors (EFs) due to metallurgical processing for silver production during periods of the Tiwanaku/Wari culture (AD 450–950), the Inca empires (AD 1450–1532), colonial times (AD 1532–1900), and tin production at the beginning of the 20th century. After the 1960s, Pb EFs increased by a factor of 3 compared to the emission level from metal production, which we attribute to gasoline-related Pb emissions. Our results show that anthropogenic Pb pollution levels from road traffic in South America exceed those of any historical metallurgy in the last two millennia, even in regions with exceptional high local metallurgical activity.

scholarly journals People exposed to traffic noise in european agglomerations from noise maps. A critical review

Noise Mapping ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Arana ◽  
Ricardo San Martin ◽  
Juan C. Salinas
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Noise Source ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Environmental Noise ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
The Impact

AbstractTwo of the main objectives of the European Directive on environmental noise are, firstly, to unify acoustic indices for assessing environmental noise and, secondly, to standardize assessment methodologies. The ultimate goal is to objectively and comparably manage the impact and evolution of environmental noise caused both by urban agglomerations and by traffic infrastructures (roads, rails and airports). The use of common indices and methodologies (together with five-year plan assessment required by the authorities in charge) should show how noise pollution levels are evolving plus the effectiveness of corrective measures implemented in the action plans. In this paper, available results fromnumerous European agglomerations (with particular emphasis on Spanish agglomerations) are compared and analysed. The impact and its evolution are based on the percentage of people exposed to noise. More specifically, it demonstrates the impact caused by road traffic, which proves to be the main noise source in all agglomerations. In many cases, the results are extremely remarkable. In some case, the results are illogical. For such cases, it can be concluded that either assessment methodologies have been signifi- cantly amended or the input variables to the calculation programs have been remarkably changed. The uncertainty associated with the results is such that, in our opinion, no conclusions can be drawn concerning the effectiveness of remedial measures designed within the action plans after the Directive’s first implementation Phase.

Control and Suppression in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley during the 1960s

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-412
Author(s):  
OWEN TEMBY
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Policy System ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Local Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Elites ◽  
Chemical Valley ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The One

During the 1960s, Sarnia was the wealthiest city in Ontario and the one with the dirtiest air. Its economy was dominated by Chemical Valley, the city’s petrochemical industry. Chemical Valley firms and executives were civically active, donating to public causes, dominating the local chamber of commerce, and working closely with provincial and municipal officials to ensure a friendly business environment. They also maintained a monopoly on information about local air pollution levels and were not required by government to adhere to clean air regulations. However, like the rest of the chemical industry at the time, Chemical Valley was exposed to an onslaught of negative publicity, raising the threat of regulation and loss of their control over emissions data and production processes. This article illustrates how economic elites in Sarnia prevented the problematization and regulation of air pollution. In doing so, it describes the actors in the policy system and examines its recourse to suppress dissent when activists sought to raise the air pollution issue.

scholarly journals Two lichens differing in element concentrations have similar spatial patterns of element concentrations responding to road traffic and soil input

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-yuan Wu ◽  
Jing Gao ◽  
Guo-zhan Zhang ◽  
Run-kang Zhao ◽  
Ai-qin Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Element Concentration ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Enrichment Factors ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
The Road ◽  
Element Concentrations ◽  
Road Traffic Emissions ◽  
Local Soil

Abstract Two epiphytic lichens (Xanthoria alfredii, XAa; X. ulophyllodes, XAu) and soil were sampled at three sites with varied distances to a road in a semiarid sandland in Inner Mongolia, China and analyzed for concentrations of 42 elements to assess the contribution of soil input and road traffic to lichen element burdens, and to compare element concentration differences between the two lichens. The study showed that multielement patterns, Fe:Ti and rare earth element ratios were similar between the lichen and soil samples. Enrichment factors (EFs) showed that ten elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, K, P, Pb, S, Sb, and Zn) were enriched in the lichens relative to the local soil. Concentrations of most elements were higher in XAu than in XAa regardless of sites, and increased with proximity to the road regardless of lichen species. These results suggested that lichen element compositions were highly affected by soil input and road traffic. The narrow-lobed sorediate species were more efficient in particulate entrapment than the broad-lobed nonsorediate species. XAa and XAu are good bioaccumulators for road pollution in desert and have similar spatial patterns of element concentrations for most elements as response to road traffic emissions and soil input.

Climate Change in Southern South America During the Last Two Millennia

2009 ◽  
pp. 353-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Moy ◽  
Patricio I. Moreno ◽  
Robert B. Dunbar ◽  
Michael R. Kaplan ◽  
Jean-Pierre Francois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South America ◽  
Southern South America ◽  
The Last Two Millennia

scholarly journals Acute Effects of Air Pollution and Noise from Road Traffic in a Panel of Young Healthy Subjects

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanns Moshammer ◽  
Julian Panholzer ◽  
Lisa Ulbing ◽  
Emanuel Udvarhelyi ◽  
Barbara Ebenbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Busy Road

Twenty-four healthy students walked at least four times for 1 hour under each of the four settings: by a busy road; by a busy road wearing ear plugs; in a park; and in a park but exposed to traffic noise (65 dB) through speakers. Particle mass (smaller than 2.5 and 1 µm, PM1 and PM2.5, (respectively)particle number and noise levels were measured throughout each walk. Lung function and exhaled nitric oxide (NO) were measured before, immediately after, 1 hour after, and approximately 24 h after each walk. Blood pressure and heart-rate variability were measured every 15 min during each walk. Air pollution levels reduced lung function levels; noise levels reduced systolic blood pressure and heart-rate variability.

scholarly journals Analysis of Trace Elements in the Bhq Ice Core, Law Dome, Antarctica

1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (118) ◽  
pp. 297-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu Yun-Gang ◽  
Zhang Yun-Hui ◽  
Li Gui-Qun ◽  
Xiao Lun ◽  
Xie Zi-Chu
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Analytical Procedure ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Enrichment Factors ◽  
Environment Protection ◽  
The Past ◽  
Positive Tendency ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Sample Transfer ◽  
Certified Values

AbstractTrace elements in ice samples taken from Law Dome, Antarctica, were analysed using an instrumental neutron-activation analysis technique. A Jupiter multichannel analyser-computer system coupled to a Ge(Li) detector was used for the acquisition of γ-spectra and for data reduction. “Blanks” in water and in nitric acid, which were used in pre-concentration and sample transfer, were also analysed. To check the validity of this analytical procedure, a U.S. Environment Protection Agency water standard for trace elements was also analysed. The observed values agreed with the certified values.The results (in ppb) of eight elements are:Na   209         Mn   0.42   Mg  26   Fe  14Sc    0.0017   Co   0.028   Al   9.6   Se   0.02The enrichment factors for these eight elements relative to the Earth’s crust were calculated. These elements can be subdivided into three groups or sources according to their enrichment factors. The variations of elemental concentrations with depth show no positive tendency towards a systematic increase or decrease over the past 5000 years.

First archaeointensity reference paleosecular variation curve for South America and its implications for geomagnetism and archaeology

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avto Goguitchaichvili ◽  
Catriel Greco ◽  
Rafael Garcia Ruiz ◽  
Lucas Pereyra Domingorena ◽  
Ruben Cejudo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Absolute Intensity ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Reference Curve ◽  
Paleosecular Variation ◽  
Variation Curve ◽  
Catamarca Province ◽  
Radiometric Ages ◽  
The Last Two Millennia ◽  
Good Agreement

AbstractWe report comprehensive rock-magnetic and archaeointensity investigations from 21 well-constrained pottery fragments from the Catamarca province of northwest Argentina. The absolute ages of the studied sites are ascertained by several high-quality radiometric ages and range between 1940 to 114014C yr BP. Magnetic mineralogy experiments indicates that the remanence is carried by thermally stable Ti-poor titanomagnetites. Forty-seven samples belonging to 11 out of 98 studied potsherds yielded reliable absolute intensity determinations judging from the quality parameters associated with the Thellier double-heating experiments. Moreover, we analyzed the available absolute geomagnetic intensities associated with the radiometric ages to construct the first intensity paleosecular variation curve (PSVC) for South America using thermoremanent magnetization carried by burned archaeological artifacts obtained in the present investigation and 79 other selected archaeointensities (out of 213 published in the literature). The dataset is used to build the PSVC reference curve by combined bootstrap and temporal P-spline methods. The variation curve shows significant differences with the global prediction model SHA.DIF.14k mainly based on the GEOMAGIA database. This intensity PSVC curve shows reasonably good agreement with paleosecular variation curves for Europe between 850 through 1150 BC and for Asia between 1000 and 1500 BC. This regional curve may be used as most reliable archaeomagnetic dating tool for the major part of South America (Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia) for the last two millennia.

scholarly journals Early atmospheric contamination on the top of the Himalayas since the onset of the European Industrial Revolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (8) ◽  
pp. 3967-3973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Gabrielli ◽  
Anna Wegner ◽  
M. Roxana Sierra-Hernández ◽  
Emilie Beaudon ◽  
Mary Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metals ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Toxic Metal ◽  
Enrichment Factors ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Toxic Trace Metals

Because few ice core records from the Himalayas exist, understanding of the onset and timing of the human impact on the atmosphere of the “roof of the world” remains poorly constrained. We report a continuous 500-y trace metal ice core record from the Dasuopu glacier (7,200 m, central Himalayas), the highest drilling site on Earth. We show that an early contamination from toxic trace metals, particularly Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, Sb, and Zn, emerged at high elevation in the Himalayas at the onset of the European Industrial Revolution (∼1780 AD). This was amplified by the intensification of the snow accumulation (+50% at Dasuopu) likely linked to the meridional displacement of the winter westerlies from 1810 until 1880 AD. During this period, the flux and crustal enrichment factors of the toxic trace metals were augmented by factors of 2 to 4 and 2 to 6, respectively. We suggest this contamination was the consequence of the long-range transport and wet deposition of fly ash from the combustion of coal (likely from Western Europe where it was almost entirely produced and used during the 19th century) with a possible contribution from the synchronous increase in biomass burning emissions from deforestation in the Northern Hemisphere. The snow accumulation decreased and dry winters were reestablished in Dasuopu after 1880 AD when lower than expected toxic metal levels were recorded. This indicates that contamination on the top of the Himalayas depended primarily on multidecadal changes in atmospheric circulation and secondarily on variations in emission sources during the last 200 y.

scholarly journals The Fall of the Moche: A Critique of Claims for South America’s First State

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Quilter ◽  
Michele L. Koons
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Political System ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The North ◽  
Recent Scholarship ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
North Coast Of Peru

AbstractThe Moche archaeological culture of the North Coast of Peru has been reified into a political system and claimed as the first state in South America. While some recent scholarship has reduced the size of the proposed state, the idea of Moche as a distinct political, social, or ethnic entity remains. In this article we demonstrate that even by the “classic” neoevolutionary theory of the 1960s—1980s the criteria for Moche statehood were not met. We suggest that neoevolutionary models for one or more Moche states are inadequate for understanding an archaeological culture that endured for more than six centuries, and we offer suggestions for directions for future research.

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