J. Phys. IV France 107 (2003) 1123
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030498

Chronology of platinum accumulation in an urban lake

S. Rauch¹, H.F. Hermond¹, G. Ravizza² and G.M. Morrison<sup>3

1</sup>  Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, U.S.A.
²  Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A.
³  Water Environment Transport, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden

Abstract
Concern has recently emerged over the release of platinum from automobile catalysts and increasing environmental concentrations. The history of platinum deposition is followed through the natural incorporation of pollutants into the sediment record of the Upper Mystic Lake. Platinum was determined by ICP-MS in dated sediments. Platinum concentration remained relatively constant until the mid-1970s when Pt-containing catalysts were introduced in the US. After the introduction of catalysts, platinum concentration increased significantly, with an average deposition rate of 5.4  g m ^-2 year ^-1 after 1990.

© EDP Sciences 2003