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Past anthropogenic impacts revealed by trace elements in cave guano
Ferenc L Forray1, Oana A Dumitru2, Zachary D Atlas3
1Department of Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, 400084, Romania.
Chemosphere
|May 27, 2024
Summary
Cave bat guano reveals historical pollution from mining and leaded gasoline. This environmental record tracks pollution trends and sources from 1000 CE to 2012, offering insights into human impact.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Historical Ecology
Background:
- Toxic elements from natural and human activities accumulate in the environment, posing risks.
- Cave bat guano is an under-researched repository for historical environmental data.
- Understanding past pollution sources is crucial for managing current environmental risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trace elements in cave bat guano to reconstruct historical pollution trends.
- To identify specific pollution sources, including mining, agriculture, and industrial activities.
- To assess the impact of historical events on environmental pollution.
Main Methods:
- Trace element analysis of a 1.5-meter thick guano deposit from Zidită Cave, Romania.
- Chronological dating of the guano deposit to cover the period 1000 CE–2012.
- Correlation of pollution peaks with known historical events and industrial activities.
Main Results:
- Significant pollution identified, primarily from porphyry copper and Au-Ag-Te mines.
- Impacts from leaded gasoline usage and agricultural practices were also detected.
- Pollution patterns show disruptions from the Bubonic plague, market collapses, and industrialization.
Conclusions:
- Cave bat guano is a valuable archive for reconstructing historical pollution.
- The study identified specific mining activities and other human practices as major pollution sources.
- Guano analysis provides critical insights into local and regional pollution patterns over a millennium.
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