Ecological consequences of soil pollution by metallic dust from the Sudbury smelters

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Proc. - Inst. Environ. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5579540

Costescu, L M; Hutchinson, T C

While Sudbury has had a severe air pollution problem with SO/sub 2/, the contamination of the area by metallic dust has been overlooked. Extensive soil contamination has occurred over a wide area. Soil levels of such pollutants as nickel and copper have, both in theory and in practice, been found to be toxic to test species. The soil contamination has a pattern indicative of an airborne smelter source. The metallic pollution is a continuing phenomenon. Elevated levels of nickel can be detected up to 31 miles from the smelter, toxic water soluble nickel levels to 10 miles. The patterns of metal pollution are reflected in the excessive levels of the smelted metals in resistant vegetation close to the smelter. Heavy metals are persistent in soils - the ecological consequences to date are perhaps only masked by the SO/sub 2/ damage.

• OSTI ID: 5579540
• Journal Information: Proc. - Inst. Environ. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. - Inst. Environ. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 18; ISSN IESPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CANADA
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
DUSTS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LAND POLLUTION
METALS
NICKEL
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SMELTERS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS