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    Molecular and isotopic records of combustion inputs to the environment over the last 250 years

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    Lima_Thesis (14.86Mb)
    Date
    2004-06
    Author
    Lima, Ana Lucia Cessel de  Concept link
    Metadata
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    Citable URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/1912/1861
    Location
    Pettaquamscutt River
    Siskiwitt Lake
    DOI
    10.1575/1912/1861
    Keyword
     Carbon; Isotopes; Combustion 
    Abstract
    The most ubiquitous source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the environment is incomplete combustion. This study generated a high-resolution historical record of pyrogenic PAH emissions since pre-industrial times from anoxic aquatic sediments, allowing for detailed comparison with energy consumption data. We show that an increase in PAH concentrations over the last decade may be due to a rise in emissions from diesel-powered vehicles. Compound-specific radiocarbon measurements demonstrated unequivocally that the proportion of PAHs derived from fossil fuel combustion has increased substantially during the 20th century. δ13C and Δ14C measurements were also used to constrain the relative importance of combustion versus in situ production as sources of perylene. In addition, a comparison of the down-core concentration and isotopic profiles of black carbon (BC) generated by a combination of chemical and/or thermal oxidation methods highlighted the limitations of these methods when applied to sedimentary matrices. Finally, parallel lead and cesium isotopic records revealed two new potential stratigraphic markers in North American sedimentary records. 206Pb/207Pb profiles show a distinct peak in the mid-19th century, while a 137Cs peak was found to coincide with the 1986 Chernobyl accident.
    Description
    Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution June 2004
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    • WHOI Theses
    • Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry (MC&G)
    Suggested Citation
    Thesis: Lima, Ana Lucia Cessel de, "Molecular and isotopic records of combustion inputs to the environment over the last 250 years", 2004-06, DOI:10.1575/1912/1861, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/1861
     

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