Original ArticlesAtmospheric dispersion of trace metals between two smelters: An approach coupling lead, strontium and osmium isotopes from bioindicators

- Pb, Sr and Os isotope ratios discriminate smelters located in different cities.
- Lichens are viable indicators of metal atmospheric deposition.
- Metal contents in bioindicators are explained by mixing between three end-members.
- The study of isotope ratios from bioindicators allows delineating metal dispersion plumes around smelters.

Bioindicators, by naturally cumulating the impacts of chemical contaminants over time, have demonstrated their added value in evaluating environmental quality. We studied Pb, Sr and Os isotope systematics from Cladonia rangiferina lichens collected along a transect between two smelting complexes located in Rouyn-Noranda and Sudbury (Canada) to identify sources of these metals in the Abitibi region and to delineate the extent of their respective emission plumes. Results show that metals present in the study area are explained by the contamination of the regional background by deposition from the atmospheric emissions of the different smelters over distances up to 250 km. A rough estimate of the respective metal contributions of each smelter to the lichen samples was calculated. At low metal concentrations, lichen samples indicate that dispersion plumes may differ for the Pb and Os contamination, perhaps to be linked to differential volatility.