The legacy of metallurgical atmospheric contamination in a mountainous catchment: A delayed response of Pb contamination.

Metal-rich fumes emitted during ore smelting contribute to widespread anthropogenic contamination. Environmental archives (such as lake sediments) record fallouts deposited on lake and terrestrial surfaces during ancient mining and smelting activities. However, very few is known about the potential buffering effect of soils upon which metal falls out, prior to be released through runoff and or/erosion, hence leading to pervasive contamination fluxes long after the ceasing of metallurgical activities.