Geochemical records of paleocontamination in late pleistocene lake sediments in West Flanders (Belgium)

ABSTRACT

Concentrations of trace elements in Late Pleistocene lake sediments from two localities in West Flanders (Belgium) were studied using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The studied sediments were deposited during the transition of the Allerød to the Younger Dryas. Trace elements enter lake environments from a variety of sources, but mostly from bedrock weathering in catchments and as wind-blown dust particles. These sources create a natural trace element background in lake sediment records. The concentration and distribution of trace elements across the studied lake sediment sequences display features consistent with inputs of materials other than those from soil or bedrock. Input from volcanic eruptions, biomass burning and meteorite impacts should be considered among the main sources of non-anthropogenic contamination of lake environments.

KEYWORDS:

• Trace elements
• lake sediments
• contamination

Acknowledgements

The authors thank M. Burton for the provided opportunity to work in his laboratory. C. Verbruggen is especially thanked for organizing fieldwork in Belgium; H. de Wolf and P. Cleveringa are thanked for help during fieldwork. A. de Busschere is particularly thanked for allowing them to work on his private property. We would also like to thank A. van Hoesel, C. V. Haynes Jr., J. Ballenger, W.Z. Hoek, C. Verbruggen and N. van der Putten for very fruitful discussions on the considering issues. An anonymous reviewer and J. Ballard are thanked for critical reading of the earlier version of the manuscript, and for their invaluable comments and advice. J. Ballard is also thanked for helping with English.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contribuors

Alexandre V. Andronikov was born in Russia. He graduated from St. Petersburg State University in 1980 with an MSc degree and in 1991 with a PhD degree. He is an expert in elemental geochemistry, isotopic geochemistry, petrology, paleolimnology and stratigraphy. He is working as a senior research scientist for the Czech Geological Survey.

Irina E. Andronikova was born in Russia. She graduated from St. Petersburg State University in 1980 with an MSc degree. She is an expert in mineralogy, elemental geochemistry, petrology, paleolimnology and stratigraphy. She is working as a research scientist for the Czech Geological Survey.

Dmitri A. Subetto was born in Russia. He graduated from St. Petersburg State University in 1982 with an MSc degree and in 1994 with a PhD degree. In 2003, he received the degree of the Doctor of Science. He is an expert in lithology, limnology and paleolimnology, and stratigraphy. He is working as a director of the Northern Water Problems research Institute of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Science.

Eugenija Rudnickaite was born in Lithuania. She graduated from Vilnius University in 1977 with an MSc degree, and in 2016, with a PhD degree. She is an expert in Quaternary stratigraphy, lithology and geochronology. She is working now as a senior research scientist for Vilnius University.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported in part by the NASA Astrobiology Institution (NAI) International Collaboration Fund for AVA.