Atmospheric Pb variations in Central Asia since 1955 from Muztagata ice core record, eastern Pamirs.

A Muztagata ice core recovered at 7010 m altitude in East Pamirs provides a Pb concentration record from 1955 to 2000. The result reveals increasing Pb concentrations from 1955 to 1993, with two Pb concentration peaks in 1980 and 1993. After 1993, Pb concentrations in ice core show an obviously declining trend. Analysis shows that the lead in the Muztagata ice core mainly came from anthropogenic emissions from countries in Central Asia, while the local emission had little contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]