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Geochemistry of large benthic foraminifera Amphisorus hemprichii as a high-resolution proxy for lead pollution in coastal environments
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Geochemistry of large benthic foraminifera Amphisorus hemprichii as a high-resolution proxy for lead pollution in coastal environments

N. Sagar, A. Sadekov, P. Scott, T. Jenner, A. Vadiveloo, N.R. Moheimani and M. McCulloch
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol.162, Article 111918
2021
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Abstract

Anthropogenic lead (Pb) contamination resulting from the rapid growth of industrialization in coastal environments poses significant challenges. In this study, we report a novel approach utilising the large benthic foraminifera Amphisorus hemprichii as a biogeochemical archive for monitoring Pb pollution in tropical to warm-temperate coastal waters. Live juvenile specimens of A. hemprichii were cultured in the laboratory for 16 weeks with a range of seawater Pb concentrations. Lead uptake in both newly grown and pre-existing chambers of individual specimens was characterised using the microanalytical technique, Laser ablation-ICP mass spectrometry. We found that Pb concentration in the tests of cultured foraminifera in the laboratory is proportional to seawater [Pb] with the lead partition coefficient (KDPb) of 8.37 ± 0.3. This calibration together with a new biomineralisation model now enables A. hemprichii to be utilised as a naturally occurring bio-archive to quantitatively monitor anthropogenic Pb pollution in coastal waters.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
8 Earth Sciences
8.8 Geochemistry, Geophysics & Geology
8.8.517 Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions
Web Of Science research areas
Environmental Sciences
Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
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