{"id":9683,"date":"2024-11-05T22:21:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T22:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=9683"},"modified":"2024-11-05T22:21:01","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T22:21:01","slug":"lead-pollution-even-reaches-pristine-tibetan-glaciers-researchers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/lead-pollution-even-reaches-pristine-tibetan-glaciers-researchers-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Lead Pollution Even Reaches Pristine Tibetan Glaciers, Researchers Say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study reveals alarming levels of lead pollution in the remote glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau, highlighting the urgent need for global environmental policy changes to tackle human-made contamination.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>An alarming new study has revealed that human industrial activities have tainted even some of the most remote regions of the world. By examining ice cores from the Guliya ice cap in northwestern Tibet, researchers led by The Ohio State University have traced significant lead pollution back to the Industrial Revolution and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through meticulous analysis of lead isotopes in dust-filled ice samples, the research team uncovered a stark shift in lead levels and sources over time. Roxana Sierra-Hernandez, the study\u2019s lead author and a senior research associate at Ohio State&#8217;s Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, pointed out the significance of their findings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur lead isotope samples date to about 36,000 years ago, a time when we know that no civilizations at the time were using lead\u00a0\u2013\u00a0meaning that much of what we found is natural,\u201d Sierra-Hernandez said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.osu.edu\/at-the-top-of-the-world-lead-pollution-reaches-even-pristine-glaciers\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>. \u201cNow with this work, we can pinpoint anthropogenic lead and when they left a mark in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1038\/s43247-024-01724-w\" title=\"\">Published<\/a> in the journal Communications Earth &amp; Environment, the study highlights a major environmental concern. While increases in lead levels in ice core samples correspond to the onset of the Industrial Revolution, a notable shift in the source of lead began in 1974. This change was attributed to stringent emissions policies introduced in the United States during that period. However, according to Sierra-Hernandez, other sources of lead pollution persisted and peaked later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The repercussions of these findings are profound. Millions depend on the glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau for essential water resources, which are now jeopardized as global warming accelerates glacial retreat. The melting of these glaciers threatens to release trapped pollutants into nearby water systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Depending on the amount of pollution there is in the environment, it sinks into these glaciers,&#8221; she added. &#8220;If a glacier melts, that source of pollution can leak into nearby rivers.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study underscores that while some lead originates naturally from the Earth\u2019s crust, the larger threat stems from human activities. Prolonged exposure to lead is linked to severe health issues, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and fertility problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an era of advanced scientific instruments and models, the team identified different lead sources with precision. Up until 2007, Chinese gasoline was the primary contributor before emissions from coal and lead-zinc ores became more prevalent. This remarkable resolution offers critical insights into how local pollution can have far-reaching impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study underscores the need for global cooperation to tackle lead pollution, which affects regions far removed from the contamination sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPoliticians need to be conscious enough to see that lead is still a concern and make policies that avoid emitting more of it, whether it\u2019s from sources of coal or gasoline,\u201d added Sierra-Hernandez.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Utilizing advanced instrumentation and models, the team distinguished between anthropogenic and natural lead. Such methodologies may pave the way for further investigations into pollution sources in other pristine environments globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Future studies can build on this work to compare modern and ancient pollution trends and better identify sources due to human activities,\u201d Sierra-Hernandez added. &#8220;It\u2019s important to do more lead isotope studies. It\u2019s hard and time-consuming, but there\u2019s so much to learn.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The collaborative effort includes contributions from Elizabeth M. Griffith and Lonnie G. Thompson of Ohio State University and Franco Marcantonio from Texas A&amp;M University. The team\u2019s work highlights a historical perspective and the ongoing need to monitor and mitigate the impact of human pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An alarming new study has revealed that human industrial activities have tainted even some of the most remote regions of the world. By examining ice cores from the Guliya ice cap in northwestern Tibet, researchers led by The Ohio State University have traced significant lead pollution back to the Industrial Revolution and beyond. Through meticulous [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"An alarming new study has revealed that human industrial activities have tainted even some of the most remote regions of the world. By examining ice cores from the Guliya ice cap in northwestern Tibet, researchers led by The Ohio State University have traced significant lead pollution back to the Industrial Revolution and beyond. Through meticulous&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9683"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9741,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9683\/revisions\/9741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}