Tree rings and peat bogs as archives of recent trends in Pb and Hg deposition in the Czech Republic

1 Tree rings and peat bogs as archives of recent trends in Pb and Hg deposition in the Czech Republic Milan Zuna, 2012 Abstract The environment polluted by toxic metals is currently one of the most topical subjects studied in a great many countries. Toxic metals and their forms are studied primarily because of their negative impact on the environment and also on human health. In the territory of the Czech Republic, direct measurements of the concentrations of these substances are available only for a limited time period. Consequently, indirect methods, such as geochemical archives, are used to determine the historical environmental burdens from these metals. Historical lead concentrations (Pb) were studied on peat bog profiles and tree rings in selected localities in the Czech Republic. Altogether 12 peat bog profiles and 33 wood cores (Picea abies) were studied, in the border territories of the Czech Republic with different historical burdens (Krušné Hory - Novodomské rašeliniště - ND, Jizerské hory - Bílá Smědá - BS, Šumava - Jezerní slat - JS), and in a historically burdened area polluted by processing of Pb- Ag ores (Příbram-Brdy). In the vicinity of Příbram, areas around the Brdy ridge (9 km east of the Pb metallurgical works) as well as in the immediate vicinity of the metallurgical works. We used the..