Discrimination between natural background and anthropogenic pollution in environmental geochemistry } exemplified in an area of south-eastern Sweden

In an area of south-eastern Sweden, very high Pb concentrations in biogeochemical samples mainly roots of stream plants. were detected. Lead mineralization in bedrock was found in the same area. Meanwhile, crystal glass industries, which emit large amounts of Pb into the environment are located nearby. It appears necessary to determine whether the high concentrations of Pb are derived from natural sources or from anthropogenic pollution. Geographical information system GIS. and multivariate analyses are applied in solving the problem. GIS is used for spatial visualization of the problem, and multivariate analyses is used for quantitative discrimination. Concentrations of seven heavy metals Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn. from biogeochemical samples, till, bedrock samples, and discharge data of pollutants from crystal glass industries were used. Both visualization by GIS and multivariate analysis provide evidence that the high Pb concentrations in the biogeochemical samples in the studied area mainly come from natural mineralization, not from human pollution. The methodologies developed in this study are applicable in the field of environmental geochemistry.