Historical pollution trends

A number of useful reviews exists on the use of sediment cores to reconstruct historical pollution trends (Alderton, 1985 Farmer, 1991 ... 

Rae, J.E. Allen, J.R.L. (1993) The significance of organic matter degradation in the interpretation of historical pollution trends in depth profiles of estuarine sediment. Estuaries 16, 678-82. 

The variation in total sediment Zn with depth is illustrated in Figure 2.6. There is a clear trend of essentially constant values of total Zn (around 150 ppm) from 1500 mm to approximately 1000 mm, with a steady increase in concentrations from 1000 mm to 225 ppm at 400 mm. Concentrations of Zn remain at approximately this latter value until they fall to 200 ppm in the uppermost 50 mm. In contrast to this clear trend, concentrations of zinc in the residual phase (non-pollutant zinc) remain approximately constant with depth (-75 ppm) (Figure 2.7). We are now faced with the problem of interpretation and the key question is does the well-defined depth trend of total Zn represent a historic pollution record or is it partly (or entirely) a function of sediment characteristics and/or early diagenetic processes ... 

Hydrocarbons. In other publications the historical trend of organic pollutant concentrations, namely polychlorinated biphenys (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides DDT and metabolites DDE, DDD, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), have been reconstructed. For this purpose the sediments of the core sampled in the Lagoon area close to the industrial district were employed (16,17). 

Pirrone, N., G.J. Keeler, J.O. Nriagu, and P.O. Warner. 1996. Historical trends of airborne trace metals in Detroit from 1971 to 1992. Water Air Soil Pollut. 88 145-165. 

Historical data are available from 19 large streams (third and fourth order) in the Catskill Mountains, some of which have been monitored since early in this century (79, 97). Trend analyses indicate that N03 concentrations have increased in all of the streams (Table V), with most of the increase occurring in the past 2 decades (97,127). These increases are not attributable to watershed anthropogenic sources of N (i.e., point and nonpoint sources of pollution) and are similar to trends observed in eight headwater streams monitored in the 1980s as part of the U.S. EPA LTM project (Table V) (97, 127, 158). 

Historical Trends of POP Atmospheric Pollution in the European Environment. 88... 

Kousa et al. [20] classified exposure models as statistical, mathematical and mathematical-stochastic models. Statistical models are based on the historical data and capture the past statistical trend of pollutants [21]. The mathematical modelling, also called deterministic modelling, involves application of emission inventories, combined with air quality and population activity modelling. The stochastic approach attempts to include a treatment of the inherent uncertainties of the model [22],... 

Evenset, A., G.N. Christensen, J. Carroll, et al. 2007. Historical trends in persistent organic pollutants and metals recorded in sediment from Lake Ellasjpen, Bjpmpya, Norwegian Arctic. Environ. Pollut. 146 196-205. 

The aim of our study was to complete our knowledge on the historical development of pollutant deposition in major basins of the central and southwestern Baltic Sea. The presented data are based on the analyses of selected heavy metals and organic contaminants in dated sediment cores. In detail, we want to supply information about namral backgrounds (heavy metals), time trends of concentrations, and comparisons of inventories of particle-bound pollutants for the whole period of anthropogenic impact (industrial time). 

Venkatesan M. I. (1998) Part II. Historical trends in the deposition of organic pollutants in the Southern California Bight. Historical Contamination in the Southern CaUfomia Bight. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS ORCA 129. 

It is very important in preparing these types of projects to pay attention to the sustainable city concept. The cars also cause considerable air and noise pollution which threatens the health of inhabitants. The projects should be prepared in accordance with the natural, historical and cultural characteristics of the city and not create environmental pollution. The projects should also help reduce dependence on highway networks and individual transportation trends. Marmaray project has been prepared with these points in mind and is expected to have a positive and considerable contribution to traffic problems in Istanbul. 

Knotkova, D., Kreislova, K. and Boschek, P. (1995). Trends of corrosivity based on corrosion rates and pollution data. UN-ECE International Cooperative program on effect of materials historical and cultural monuments, report 19, May. 

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