Black coral as a new environmental recorder: The lead profiles in coral skeletons over the past century. Issue 1 (15th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Shan; Cai, Weiying; Zhang, Xiaodi; Li, Xiubao; Huang, Hui; Zhang, Fenfen; Zhang, Jing
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 101:Issue 1(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2015-12-15
• Subjects: Lead (Pb) -- Black coral -- Organic skeleton -- Proxy -- SR μ-XRF -- Northern South China Sea; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Lead (Pb) is a typical heavy metal pollutant in the environment, and most Pb contamination comes from human activities. In the present work, the Pb contents of two black coral specimens ( Cirrhipathes spp.) collected from the northern South China Sea were measured by synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence (SR μ-XRF) analysis with 2.5 μm resolution. The results showed that sample SY-1 from the Sanya Bay (near the continent) exhibited higher Pb levels and greater fluctuations than sample XS-1 from the Xisha Islands (off the continent), reflecting the influence of terrestrial input and atmospheric deposition in coastal surface seawater. The present work also demonstrated that the Pb profile in black coral nearshore was highly influenced by human activities, mainly by war and economic development. Thus, black coral may serve as a new potential environmental Pb recorder with SR μ-XRF analytical technology. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Pb profile in black coral was firstly measured by SR μ-XRF with 2.5 μm resolution. SR μ-XRF was efficient for the determination of Pb variation in organic skeleton. Pb profile was related to human activities, mainly by war and economic development. Pb in black corals showed higher nearshore and lower offshore. Black coral may serve as a new potential environmental Pb recorder.