Although (Soddy, Nature 92:399–400,1913)inferred the existence of isotopes early lastcentury, it was not until the discovery of theneutron by (Chadwick, Nature 129:312,1932)that isotopes were understood to result fromdiffering numbers of neutrons in atomicnuclei. (Urey, J Chem Soc 1947:562–581,1947) predicted that different isotopes wouldbehave slightly differently in chemical (andphys…
Anthropogenic activity has resulted in the deposition of a complex combination ofmaterials in lake sediments, including synthetic polymers (plastics) that differgreatly from the Holocene signatures. Accordingly, plastics are considered oneindicator of the Anthropocene [1]. Plastic has for some time been known to be amajor component of riverine pollution [2–6], and plastic degradation products…