Coral records indicate six-decade rise and fall of atmospheric lead emission in China
Abstract Despite the global ban on leaded gasoline, environmental lead pollution remains a concern, especially in developing countries. Asia, and particularly China, has emerged as a major emission center, yet long-term records of atmospheric lead emission are scarce and often inconsistent. Here we...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02363-5 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Despite the global ban on leaded gasoline, environmental lead pollution remains a concern, especially in developing countries. Asia, and particularly China, has emerged as a major emission center, yet long-term records of atmospheric lead emission are scarce and often inconsistent. Here we reconstruct a 60-year history of lead concentration (lead/calcium) and isotopic composition in a coral from Dongsha Atoll in the northern South China Sea. The record shows a fourfold increase in lead level from 1953 to the mid-2000s, followed by a ~60% decline over the next decade. Shifts in lead isotopic composition suggest a transition from local automotive emissions to more distant industrial emissions, primarily from coal combustion in mainland China after 2000. This industrial source has declined significantly after the mid-2000s in response to stricter air pollution controls. Our findings highlight both the lasting legacy of leaded gasoline and the effectiveness of recent environmental policies in reducing atmospheric lead exposure. |
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| ISSN: | 2662-4435 |