Reconstructing Historical Land Use and Anthropogenic Inputs in Lake Victoria Basin: Insights from PAH and n-Alkane Trends.

ABSTRACT: Over the past century, human activities have profoundly transformed global ecosystems. Lake Victoria in East Africa exemplifies these challenges, showcasing the interplay of anthropogenic pressures driven by land use changes, urbanization, agriculture, and industrialization. Our comprehensive study investigates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes in the lake and its catchment to trace their sources and historical deposition. Sediment cores were collected from six sites within the catchment, representing diverse landforms and human activities, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the basin. The results indicate significant spatial and temporal variations in both PAH and n-alkane profiles, reflecting diverse land use changes and development trajectories in the basin. U

SUBMITTER: Enalbes CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11860610 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature