Paleolimnological Reconstruction of Historical Atmospheric Lead and Mercury Deposition at Lake Tahoe, California−Nevada

Abstract

Evidence from this study suggests the existence of a significant modern source for atmospheric Hg deposition in the Sierra Nevada, on the continental west coast of the United States. Concentrations of both lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in the sediments of Lake Tahoe deposited prior to 1850 are similar to concentrations in the catchment bedrock, but their concentrations in modern sediments have increased 6-fold for Pb (average 83 ppm) and 5-fold for Hg (average 0.191 ppm). The lake occupies a relatively pristine, nonindustrialized subalpine basin, with a watershed to lake surface ratio of only 1.6. Excess accumulation of trace metals in these sediments should closely reflect direct atmospheric deposition. On average, since 1980 there have been approximately 17 mg of Pb and 38 μg of Hg deposited annually/m2 in excess of the baseline flux. While Pb emissions occurred locally in the Tahoe Basin, from combustion of leaded gasoline until about 1985, the deposition of atmospheric Hg must represent a predominately regional to global source of contamination. Ratios of total modern flux to preindustrial flux are 29 for Pb and 24 for Hg. The flux ratio for Pb is somewhat higher than reported from the eastern United States and Canada but is not atypical. The flux ratio for Hg is much higher than that observed in most other natural aquatic systems without point-source contamination.