Lead, cadmium, and vanadium levels in soils and vegetation in metropolitan Toronto indicative of air borne contamination

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1971 · Am. J. Bot.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5195067

Hutchinson, T C

Lead, cadmium, and vanadium are all regarded as undesirable air contaminants. Their effects on health are well documented. Analyses have been performed on soils and roadside vegetation from eight sites collected around Toronto. The collections were made at increasing distances from the highway at each site, and soil profile samples were taken. The sites gave a very wide range of traffic density. Lead levels were very high in some of the soils near busy roads - reaching 1850 ppM in downtown Toronto compared with 110 ppM in a suburban area. A very significant correlation of concentration with distance from highway was found, and surface accumulation was also indicated. Levels in plants were correlated with soil levels but were approximately ten times lower. Cadmium and vanadium showed contrasting patterns of distribution related to traffic density and urbanization respectively.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5195067
• Journal Information: Am. J. Bot.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Bot.; (United States) Vol. 58; ISSN AJBOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CADMIUM
CANADA
CHEMISTRY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
LEAD
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
PLANTS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URBAN AREAS
VANADIUM
WASTES