Centennial records of lead contamination in northern Atlantic bivalves (Arctica islandica)

In the study, we establish centennial records of anthropogenic lead pollution at different locations in the North Atlantic (Iceland, USA, and Europe) by means of lead deposited in shells of the long-lived bivalve Arctica islandica. Due to local oceanographic and geological conditions we conclude that the lead concentrations in the Icelandic shell reflect natural influxes of lead into Icelandic waters. In comparison, the lead profile of the US shell is clearly driven by anthropogenic lead emissions transported from the continent to the ocean by westerly surface winds. Lead concentrations in the European North Sea shell, in contrast, are dominantly driven by local lead sources resulting in a much less conspicuous 1970s gasoline lead peak. In conclusion, the lead profiles of the three shells are driven by different influxes of lead, and yet, all support the applicability of Pb/Ca analyses of A. islandica shells to reconstruct location specific anthropogenic lead pollution

The high-resolution bioarchive Arctica islandica - reconstructing recent environmental history of the North Sea from bivalve shells

Bivalve shells are often used to reconstruct past environmental conditions at the time of carbonate formation. The aim of this thesis is to optimize the process of reconstructing environmental history of marine ecosystems from bivalve shells (Arctica islandica) and to contribute to a better understanding of the correlations between shell chemistry and environmental parameters. In two chapters I examine how sample preparation and data collection may affect the outcome of subsequent trace element analyses in A. islandica shells. The other two chapters of the thesis focus on the applicability of specific trace element to calcium ratios in A. islandica shells to reconstruct the recent environmental history of the German Bight (North Sea). I analyzed Pb/Ca ratios as a tracer of anthropogenic lead pollution as well as Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios as indicators of the pelagic primary production of the German Bight

Das hochauflösende Bioarchiv Arctica islandica - Rekonstruktion vergangener Umweltbedingungen in der Nordsee anhand von Muschelschalen

Bivalve shells are often used to reconstruct past environmental conditions at the time of carbonate formation. The aim of this thesis is to optimize the process of reconstructing environmental history of marine ecosystems from bivalve shells (Arctica islandica) and to contribute to a better understanding of the correlations between shell chemistry and environmental parameters. In two chapters I examine how sample preparation and data collection may affect the outcome of subsequent trace element analyses in A. islandica shells. The other two chapters of the thesis focus on the applicability of specific trace element to calcium ratios in A. islandica shells to reconstruct the recent environmental history of the German Bight (North Sea). I analyzed Pb/Ca ratios as a tracer of anthropogenic lead pollution as well as Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios as indicators of the pelagic primary production of the German Bight

Impact of sample pretreatment on the measured element concentrations in the bivalve Arctica islandica

Correlating metal to calcium (Me/Ca) ratios of marine biogenic carbonates, such as bivalve shells, to environmental parameters has led to contradictory results. Biogenic carbonates represent complex composites of organic and inorganic phases. Some elements are incorporated preferentially into organic phases, and others are incorporated into inorganic phases. Chemical sample pretreatment to remove the organic matrix prior to trace element analysis may increase the applicability of the investigated proxy relationship, though its efficiency and side effects remain questionable. We treated inorganic calcium carbonate and bivalve shell powder (Arctica islandica) with eight different chemical treatments including H2O2, NaOH, NaOCl, and acetone and analyzed the effects on (1) Me/Ca ratios (Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, Ba/Ca, and Mn/Ca), (2) organic matter (≈N) content, and (3) mineralogical composition of the calcium carbonate. The different treatments (1) cause element and treatment specific changes of Me/Ca ratios, (2) vary in their efficiency to remove organic matter, and (3) can even alter the phase composition of the calcium carbonate (e.g., formation of Ca(OH)2 during NaOH treatment). Among all examined treatments there were none without any side effects. In addition, certain Me/Ca changes we observed upon chemical treatment contradict our expectations that lattice-bound elements (Sr and Ba) should not be affected, whereas non-lattice-bound elements (Mg and Mn) should decrease upon removal of the organic matrix. For instance, we observe that NaOCl treatment did not alter Sr/Ca ratios but caused unexpected changes of the Mg/Ca ratios. The latter demonstrates that the buildup of complex biogenic composites like the shell of Arctica islandica are still poorly understood

Lead/Calcium profiles in the common time window 1770-2010 of the three Arctica islandica shells

In the study, we establish centennial records of anthropogenic lead pollution at different locations in the North Atlantic (Iceland, USA, and Europe) by means of lead deposited in shells of the long-lived bivalve Arctica islandica. Due to local oceanographic and geological conditions we conclude that the lead concentrations in the Icelandic shell reflect natural influxes of lead into Icelandic waters. In comparison, the lead profile of the US shell is clearly driven by anthropogenic lead emissions transported from the continent to the ocean by westerly surface winds. Lead concentrations in the European North Sea shell, in contrast, are dominantly driven by local lead sources resulting in a much less conspicuous 1970s gasoline lead peak. In conclusion, the lead profiles of the three shells are driven by different influxes of lead, and yet, all support the applicability of Pb/Ca analyses of A. islandica shells to reconstruct location specific anthropogenic lead pollution