Tin contamination in sediments of Lake Zurich: source, spread, history and risk assessment.

ABSTRACT: Industrial activities of a silk dyeing factory in Thalwil, on the shore of Lake Zurich, Switzerland, caused extreme Sn contamination of lake sediments. In this study, we determine the contamination source, spread, and age using a multiproxy approach. We used X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) core scanning and further geochemical analyses to assess the contamination spreading and thickness in the sedimentary column. We found elevated Sn levels throughout sediments of Lake Zurich, ranging from 177  gkg-1 in front of the former silk factory to 0.05  gkg-1 at the southeast end (background: ca. 0.006  gkg-1 ). The rapid concentration drop away from the shore suggests quick precipitation of a sparingly soluble inorganic Sn compound, which is confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope Imaging

SUBMITTER: Roethlin RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11668850 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature