Air pollution by lead and other trace metals

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Adv. Exp. Med. Biol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3240-4_9· OSTI ID:6205987

Harrison, P R

Inventories are carried out of natural, industrial, and human produced lead aerosols as well as those of some trace metals. The arguments for use of lead in gasoline are that unleaded gasolines are more expensive and replacement by more aromatic compounds may have greater adverse health effects creating a greater hazard. The arguments against the use of lead are that there are human health hazards, and it serves no biologically useful function. It is also possible that there are disruptions in the ecological developement of certain organisms due to these lead aerosols. The argument that lead aerosols cause weather modification has yet to be validated although they may still exist. There is a potential threat in that bacteria can take up substantial quantities of lead with no apparent deleterious effects on cell growth rate and viability. The implication that lead could be transferred through the food chain in an increasing concentrated manner is still a possibility. A final item that must also be included is the fact that certain compounds of some of these trace metals are many times more deleterious to the ecology (and man) than that in the pure state. Methylmercury is several times more toxic than raw purified mercury. According to the exposure, trace metals are potentially life saving as well as toxic. It becomes obvious that further investigations as to the effects of these trace elements on organisms (man, animal, and plant) are madatory if man is to ''optimize'' his environment. Extensive research on lead indicates that the ecology is being assaulted unnecessarily by large amounts of lead as aerosols; however, no adverse health effects seem to have been detected in adults by exposure in this form. The effect on young children remains a question.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Environmental Control, Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 6205987
• Journal Information: Adv. Exp. Med. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Adv. Exp. Med. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 40; ISSN AEMBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUILDUP
CHEMISTRY
COPPER
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
LEAD
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
URBAN AREAS