Lead contamination of air, soil, vegetation and people in the vicinity of secondary lead smelters

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974 · Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States)

OSTI ID:5483735

Roberts, T M; Gizyn, W; Hutchinson, T C

Lead contamination around two secondary Pb smelters located in urban areas was due mainly to large-particulate fallout low level fugitive sources rather than stack fumes. Lead in monthly dustfall collections decreased exponentially with distance and consequently so did contamination of soil, vegetation and outdoor dust. The range of Pb concentrations in 24 hr collections of suspended particles also decreased with distance due to episodal peaks associated with winds from the smelters. The velocity of total deposition (dustfall/air concentration) was much greater close to the smelters because a high percentage of airborne Pb was associated with large particles. The Pb concentration in blood and hair of local residents was significantly higher than in a control group, largely due to excessive Pb absorption by about 30% of the children examined. The major route of Pb absorption by children living in the contaminated areas appeared to be ingestion of dirt and dusts rather than inhalation of suspended particles. Consumption of home grown vegetables was not extensive but leaves and tubers of vegetables did accumulate significant amounts of Pb from fallout and soil respectively. As contamination of the residential neighborhoods was the result of Pb emissions over many years, control measures should include replacement of surface soil as well as a reduction of current emissions. Ongoing monitoring of Pb accumulation in turf transplanted into the contaminated area indicates that it will be at least 4-6 years before levels become excessive again at the current rate of fallout. 29 references.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5483735
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States) Journal Volume: 8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CANADA
DATA
DEPOSITION
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOOD
FRUITS
GRASS
HAIR
INFORMATION
LEAD
LEAVES
LETTUCE
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ONTARIO
ORGANS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RADISHES
SKIN
SMELTERS
SOILS
TOMATOES
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
VERTEBRATES