Dating of a Sediment Core by ~(210)Pb_(ex) Method and Pb Pollution Chronology in the Palermo Gulf (Italy)

摘要

Within a more general study on marine sediments in the Gulf of Palermo (Sicily, Italy), the ~(210)Pb_(ex) dating method (using a model with constant sedimentation rate) has been applied to one sediment core. The main goal of the research was to study the Pb pollution chronology. Dating of the core has allowed evaluating the time evolution of the gulf lead concentrations. Specific activities of ~(137)Cs have also been measured in the sediment core sections as an independent confirmation of the chronology derived by the ~(210)Pb_(ex) method. The time scale has then been used to correlate lead concentrations in core sections to estimated lead emissions in air due to gasolinerncombustion. A good correlation between the two data series has been obtained.