ICP-MS measurements of lead isotopic ratios in soils heavily contaminated by lead smelting: tracing the sources of pollution

The Pb isotopic composition (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/206Pb) in smelter-impacted soils was measured using a quadrupole-based ICP-MS. Four forest/tilled soil profiles were sampled according to the distance from the lead smelter in Příbram (Czech Republic), prevailing wind direction, geological background and soil type. The results were compared with the Pb isotopic composition of bedrocks and waste materials from Pb metallurgy (smelting slags, air-pollution-control residues). The isotopic composition of soils confirms the predominant role of metallurgy on the general pollution in the area. The highly contaminated soils from the vicinity of the smelter contain up to 35,300 mg Pb kg−1 and exhibit an isotopic composition close to that of car battery processing (206Pb/207Pb up to 1.177). A coupled concentration/isotopic study of soil profiles showed that the smelter-induced pollution had penetrated even to the mineral soil horizons, indicating an important vertical mobility of Pb contaminant within the soil profile. The calculated downward penetration rate of Pb in soils ranges from 0.3 to 0.36 cm year−1.