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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Geochemistry
  • Isotope Geochemistry

Background:

  • Tracing heavy metal pollution sources is crucial for understanding environmental cycles.
  • Lead (Pb) isotopes have been the primary tool for tracking metal pollution.
  • Cadmium (Cd) isotope analysis offers a new avenue for source apportionment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of Cd isotope ratios for tracing industrial pollution sources.
  • To differentiate between various Cd sources in polluted topsoils.
  • To assess the contribution of industrial processes to Cd fractionation in the environment.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic measurement of Cd isotope ratios in topsoil samples surrounding a Pb-Zn refinery.
  • Analysis of Pb isotope systematics in the same soil samples.
  • Calculation of the relative contributions of different Cd origins (industrial dust, slag, agriculture).

Main Results:

  • Observed systematic variations in Cd isotope ratios attributable to refinery processes.
  • Identified Cd isotopic fractionation caused by industrial activities.
  • Distinguished three main Cd origins: industrial dust, slag, and agriculture, with calculated contributions.
  • Pb isotope data indicated changing ore origins over time, complicating Pb source tracing.

Conclusions:

  • Cd isotopes can be traced in the environment, offering a novel method for identifying anthropogenic sources.
  • Cd isotope and concentration data successfully identified and quantified pollution sources.
  • This approach enhances our understanding of Cd mixing, fluxes, transport, and remediation strategies.