R. Shrivastav et al., BRICKS AS HISTORICAL RECORD OF HEAVY-METALS FALLOUT - STUDY ON COPPERACCUMULATION IN AGRA SOILS SINCE 1910, Environmental monitoring and assessment, 40(3), 1996, pp. 271-278
Peat, ice deposits and aquatic sediments, which have been used as a ge
ochemical monitor of atmospheric heavy metal pollution until now, are
open and dynamic systems and can be easily affected by climatic variat
ions. In contrast, bricks, which are more compact, can act as a better
geochemical monitor. Analysis of Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn in scores of s
oil and brick (baked/unbaked) samples, collected from a large area in
and around a rapidly growing Indian city, Agra, reveals approximately
similar concentrations in soils and bricks, thereby showing insignific
ant fractionation of these metals during brick making. Further, metals
concentration in the core of bricks remains unaffected by any signifi
cant amount of acidic and alkaline rain. Thus, the feasibility of a no
vel role of bricks as a geochemical monitor of atmospheric heavy metal
pollution has been tested. Utilizing this concept, an attempt has als
o been made to trace the history of atmospheric copper depositions in
the soils of Agra during the last 100 years.