The graphical presentation of lead isotope data for environmental source apportionment

Ellam, R.M. (2010) The graphical presentation of lead isotope data for environmental source apportionment. Science of the Total Environment, 408(16), pp. 3490-3492. (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.03.037)

Abstract

Lead isotope ratios are widely used to identify original sources of Pb in the environment. Such source apportionment depends on the ability to distinguish potential sources on the basis of their isotopic composition. However, almost all terrestrial Pb is co-linear in some of the plots i.e. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁸Pb versus ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb commonly presented in the literature. These diagrams are unable to distinguish more than two sources of environmental Pb. Linear trends in such plots are an inevitable consequence of the co-linearity of terrestrial leads and should not be taken necessarily to indicate simple binary mixing of sources. A more reliable test for multiple source mixing can be obtained from plots involving ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and therefore requires measurements of the minor ²⁰⁴Pb isotope.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ellam, Professor Rob
• Authors: Ellam, R.M.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Science of the Total Environment
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0048-9697
• ISSN (Online): 1879-1026
• Published Online: 30 April 2010
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Science of the Total Environment 408(16):3490-3492
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher