Air as a source of lead in edible crops

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1970 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es60038a008· OSTI ID:6499064

Ter Haar, G

The effect of airborne lead on the lead concentration of the edible and nonedible portions of several important types of food crops was studied by growing crops in greenhouses supplied with filtered and ambient air, and in plots planted in long rows perpendicular to a busy highway. Of the ten crops studied - wheat, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, carrots, cabbage, oats, rice, leaf lettuce, and snap beans - eight were not affected by the concentration of lead in air. In both sets of tests, inedible portions of the plants (bean leaves, corn husks, soybean husks, and oat, wheat, and rice chaff) showed a two- to three-fold increase in lead concentration when grown near the road or in the greenhouse with unfiltered air. The conclusions are reached that lead occurring naturally in the soil is the main source of lead in the edible portion of the crops studied, and that airborne lead, based on the crops studied, contributes 0.5 to 1.5% of the lead content of the US diet.

• Research Organization: Ethyl Corp. Research Lab., Ferndale, MI
• OSTI ID: 6499064
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 4:3; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
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.
ABSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION
BEANS
BUILDUP
CARROTS
CEREALS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTAMINATION
CROPS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOLIAR UPTAKE
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
LEAD
LETTUCE
MAIZE
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
OATS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POTATOES
RICE
ROOT ABSORPTION
TOMATOES
TUBERS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
WHEAT