Review of current information on some ecological and health related aspects of the release of trace metals into the environment associated with the combustion of coal

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7300370· OSTI ID:7300370

Heit, M.

A review of recent information on the environmental levels, ecological effects and health effects of thirty five elements which may be released into the environment by the combustion of coal is presented. Elements discussed include: Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, Hg, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, Ti, Tl, U, V, W and Zn. Fourteen of these elements are found to be potentially harmful to organisms from various ecosystems either through direct contact or secondarily through incorporation in food chains. Of these, the trace elements found to be potentially harmful to man and usually other biota include: As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn and Tl. Those elements which are primarily deleterious to organisms other than man include: Ag, Cu, F and Zn. Another six elements, Ba, Bi, Co, Ga, Mn and Te, remain questionable as to whether they are of environmental concern. Vanadium is important as an indicator of the combustion of fossil fuels. (131 references)

• Research Organization: Energy Research and Development Administration, New York (USA). Health and Safety Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7300370
• Report Number(s): HASL-320
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM
ANTIMONY
ARSENIC
BARIUM
BERYLLIUM
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BISMUTH
BORON
CADMIUM
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM
COAL
COBALT
COMBUSTION
COPPER
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUORINE
FOOD CHAINS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GALLIUM
GASEOUS WASTES
GERMANIUM
HAFNIUM
HALOGENS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INDIUM
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
MASS TRANSFER
MERCURY
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
REFRACTORY METALS
RUBIDIUM
SCANDIUM
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SILVER
STRONTIUM
TELLURIUM
THALLIUM
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TIN
TITANIUM
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN
URANIUM
VANADIUM
WASTES
ZINC