Mg. Macklin et al., THE SIGNIFICANCE OF POLLUTION FROM HISTORIC METAL MINING IN THE PENNINE OREFIELDS ON RIVER SEDIMENT CONTAMINANT FLUXES TO THE NORTH-SEA, Science of the total environment, 194, 1997, pp. 391-397
Historic lead and zinc mining in the Northern Pennines, Yorkshire Dale
s and Peak District significantly affects water and sediment quality i
n river basins in the LOIS study area. Sediment-associated contaminant
metals are transported, often in pulses or slugs, as suspended load u
nder flood conditions. Although downstream decreases in metal concentr
ations are observed in the river systems, a substantial proportion of
the metals have been incorporated into alluvial deposits. These in tur
n are, and will continue to act, as a major secondary source of metal
contaminants over many hundreds of years. These processes need to be t
aken into consideration when modelling riverine metal fluxes to the No
rth Sea, to avoid overestimation of metal contaminants from industrial
and urban sources, and underestimation of contaminants from these min
ing-related sources. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.