Vicinity Of Smelter Research Articles

Relationship Between Lead (Pb) Concentration in Soil, Grass , Blood, Milk and δ-aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) Activity , Hemoglobin (Hb) and Hematocrit (Hct) in Grazing Cows from Vicinity of Smelter “Trepça” in Kosovo

Relationship Between Lead (Pb) Concentration in Soil, Grass , Blood, Milk and δ-aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) Activity , Hemoglobin (Hb) and Hematocrit (Hct) in Grazing Cows from Vicinity of Smelter “Trepça” in Kosovo

Soil trace elements contamination in the vicinity of Khatoon Abad copper smelter, Kerman province, Iran

Continuous deposition from Khatoon Abad smelter stack particulates has resulted in trace elements contamination in soil. To investigate the regional distribution and fractionation of trace elements in soils, soil samples were collected and examined. The results demonstrate that the highest trace element concentrations in top soil are: >10000 mg Cu kg-1, 2000 mg Mo kg-1, >10000 mg Zn kg-1, 2694.2 mg As kg-1, 2006.2 mg Pb kg-1, 420.4 mg Sb kg-1, and 90.7 mg Cd kg-1. The concentrations of the trace elements are much higher than the normal concentrations in the uncontaminated soil and geochemical background. The most contaminated areas are located in the vicinity of smelter in the prevailing wind directions. Calculated geoaccumulation index and contamination load index indicate surface soil enrichment in potentially toxic metals (Cu, Mo, As, Sb, Cd, Zn, and Pb). Combined multivariate statistical and geostatistical methods successfully separate the contaminant metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Mo, and Zn) from the uncontaminated ones (Al, Fe, Mn, and Cr). Furthermore, it was found that the As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Mo, and Zn mainly come from the copper smelter. The modified BCR three-step sequential extraction technique was applied to assess the four fractions (residual, acid, reducible and oxidizable) in smelter dust and surface soil samples. The results demonstrate that a high proportion of Cu, Mo, As, Pb, Sb, and Zn is extracted in the mobile fractions, indicating high mobility and probably hazardous environmental consequences.

A Landsat-based study of black rock coatings proximal to base metal smelters, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Past emission of metal-bearing particulate matter, sulphur dioxide (SO2), and sulphuric acid by base metal smelters in the Sudbury region led to widespread loss of vegetation, contamination of soils, and formation of black coatings on rock surfaces. These black coatings formed through the incorporation of smelter-borne particulate matter into the partly dissolved uppermost layers of siliceous minerals on exposed rock, and are characterized by high heavy-metal content. This study involved assessment of the reflectance properties of black coatings in the Sudbury region, and determination of the geographic distribution of coatings through supervised classification of reflectance data derived from a Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) image. Classifications involved the use of the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), Maximum Likelihood, and Feedforward Backpropagation Neural Network algorithms. The reflectance spectra of black coatings in the Sudbury region are relatively flat and featureless, and are characterized by reflectance values less than ~13% across the visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared. Spectral properties are similar to those of magnetite, a spinel-group mineral known to be present in Sudbury coatings. The presence of carbon-rich soot particles may be an important influence on the reflectance properties of coatings. SAM classification results are characterized by the widespread mislabelling of uncoated urban and open-pit sites as mantled by black coatings, and neural network results problematically mislabel some uncoated wetland sites as coated. Results generated by the Maximum Likelihood algorithm most usefully depict the distribution of exposed black coatings in the Sudbury region. The mapping of black coatings using remote-sensing methods can provide useful information on the spatial character of environmental degradation in the vicinity of smelters, and should be helpful in the monitoring of environmental recovery where emissions have been reduced or eliminated.

Trace Elements and the Lead Isotopic Record in Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Tree Rings and Soils Near the Tsumeb Smelter, Namibia

The contents of As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Mn, along with the Pb isotopic ratios 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/206Pb were studied in both soils and tree rings of the marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea) in the vicinity of the Tsumeb deposit (Namibia). Amounts of all the studied metals and As are higher in the immediate vicinity of the Tsumeb Cu-Pb smelter in the soil. The tree rings also have their maximum content of all the studied substances in the vicinity of the smelter (with the exception of Pb). At a more distant site, the maximum concentration of Pb in the soils was 29.8 mg/kg, while the content in the soil in the vicinity of the smelter was as much as 8,174 mg/kg. In the vicinity of the smelter, the maximum Pb content in the tree rings reaches a value of 5.7 mg/kg, compared to a more distant site, where the contents are as high as 9.2 mg/kg. The lower Pb content in the trees on contaminated soil indicates that the composition of the xylem determines the above-ground uptake, rather than the root uptake. Similarly, the above-ground uptake is documented by the isotopic composition of Pb at the distant location, where the tree rings have different contents of Pb isotopes compared to in the soil. The As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents are highest in the tree rings from the 1950s (and older), along with those from the 1990s, while the Mn contents were highest in those from the 1960s and 1990s. The contaminant peaks in the 1950s and 1960s could be associated with the roasting of sulfidic ores, while the peak values in the 1990s could have been caused by the start of Cu slag reprocessing in the late 1980s, and culmination of works at the smelter prior to the closing of the mine. The tree rings of the marula tree were found to be a suitable archive for above-ground pollution close to Cu and Pb smelters.

Concentrations of arsenic, copper, cobalt, lead and zinc in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) growing on uncontaminated and contaminated soils of the Zambian Copperbelt

The concentrations of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in washed leaves and washed and peeled tubers of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz, Euphorbiaceae) growing on uncontaminated and contaminated soils of the Zambian Copperbelt mining district have been analyzed. An enrichment index (EI) was used to distinguish between contaminated and uncontaminated areas. This index is based on the average ratio of the actual and median concentration of the given contaminants (As, Co, Cu, mercury (Hg), Pb and Zn) in topsoil. The concentrations of copper in cassava leaves growing on contaminated soils reach as much as 612mgkg−1 Cu (total dry weight [dw]). Concentrations of copper in leaves of cassava growing on uncontaminated soils are much lower (up to 252mgkg−1 Cu dw). The concentrations of Co (up to 78mgkg−1 dw), As (up to 8mgkg−1 dw) and Zn (up to 231mgkg−1 dw) in leaves of cassava growing on contaminated soils are higher compared with uncontaminated areas, while the concentrations of lead do not differ significantly. The concentrations of analyzed chemical elements in the tubers of cassava are much lower than in its leaves with the exception of As.Even in strongly contaminated areas, the concentrations of copper in the leaves and tubers of cassava do not exceed the daily maximum tolerance limit of 0.5mgkg−1/human body weight (HBW) established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The highest tolerable weekly ingestion of 0.025mgkg−1/HBW for lead and the highest tolerable weekly ingestion of 0.015mgkg−1/HBW for arsenic are exceeded predominantly in the vicinity of smelters. Therefore, the preliminary assessment of dietary exposure to metals through the consumption of uncooked cassava leaves and tubers has been identified as a moderate hazard to human health. Nevertheless, as the surfaces of leaves are strongly contaminated by metalliferous dust in the polluted areas, there is still a potential hazard of ingesting dangerous levels of copper, lead and arsenic if dishes are prepared with poorly washed foliage.

Breast Milk Lead Concentrations of Mothers Living Near Tin Smelters

We compared Pb concentration in human milk from 37 mothers living in a neighborhood of tin-ore smelters to that from 45 mothers living in a fishing community. The median breast-milk-Pb (BM-Pb) concentration was significantly (p = 0.0000001) higher (11.3 μg L(-1); ≤0.96-29.4 μg L(-1)) in mothers living in the vicinity of smelters than that of rural mothers (1.9 μg L(-1); ≤0.96-20.0 μg L(-1)). These mothers also showed a statistically significant correlation between length of residence and BM-Pb concentration (Spearman r = 0.6864; p < 0.0001). The estimated median exposure (for infants <6 months) was 3.0 μg kg(-1) b.w. for rural infants compared to 7.5 μg kg(-1) b.w. for infants in the vicinity of metal smelters. Overall, most BM-Pb concentrations (79 %) in the metal smelter area were above the critical limit of 5.0 μg L(-1) set by the WHO.

Lead and cadmium in mushrooms from the vicinity of two large emission sources in Slovenia

Cd and Pb contents were determined in 699 samples of fruiting bodies of 55 mushrooms species, collected in the period 2000–2007 in the vicinity of the largest Slovenian thermal power plant (the Šalek Valley) and near an abandoned lead smelter (the Upper Meža Valley). The present study is the first regarding lead and cadmium in mushrooms from those exposed areas. Therefore, there was a significant lack of prior data. Among 55 studied mushroom species 36 species are edible and important from an ecotoxicological perspective. However, the remaining non-edible species are important for bioindication and allowed us to compare our results with other studies carried out in other polluted areas in Europe. The highest contents of Cd were found in Agaricus arvensis Schff.: Fr. (117mg/kg dw) and Agaricus silvicola L.: Fr. (67.9mg/kg dw), while the highest contents of Pb were found in Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer (53.8mg/kg dw) and Lycoperdon perlatum Pers. (50mg/kg dw), respectively. Considering the high contents of both metals in fruiting bodies of edible fungi, together with FAO/WHO directives on tolerable levels of weekly intake of Pb/Cd by humans, it is evident that consumption of some mushroom species originating from both study areas may pose a significant human health risk. A. arvensis Schff.: Fr., A. silvicola L.: Fr. and Cortinarius caperatus (Pers.) Fr. originating from the Šalek Valley, and Armillaria mellea Vahl. P. Kumm., Boletus edulis Bull., L. perlatum Pers., Leccinum versipelle (Fr. & Hök) Snell, and M. procera (Scop.) Singer originating from the Upper Meža Valley should not be consumed at all. Our findings are consistent with some other studies, which emphasized that mushrooms from heavily polluted areas, such as in the vicinity of smelters, accumulate extremely high amounts of metals, and should therefore be omitted from human consumption.

Fluorine immission to acid soil in the vicinity of an aluminium smelter in Galicia (NW Spain) and its influence on aluminium dynamics

Purpose The aluminium smelter located in the northern coast of Galicia (NW Spain) is a source of fluoride pollution. Previous papers Gago et al. (Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 32:2503–2517, 2001, Fluoride 35:110–121, 2002) have identified an area of 3-km radius around the factory being affected by fluoride emissions. This study aims to investigate the influence of fluoride emissions on fluorine concentration and speciation as well as on aluminium speciation in soils in the vicinity of the smelter.

Ocean to continent transfer of atmospheric Se as revealed by epiphytic lichens

There is still a long-term debate concerning the relative contributions of naturally emitted and anthropogenic Se at the regional and local scales. Here, Se and heavy metal concentrations are reported for epiphytic lichens collected in coastal and inland areas from the USA, Canada and France for assessing atmospheric Se source. Correlations found between Se and Cl in lichens confirmed the major marine biogenic source for atmospheric Se. Continental samples do not show systematic relationships between Se and other metal (Pb, Cu, In …) contents, even for lichens collected in the vicinity of smelters or close to urban areas. Our results suggest that, although anthropogenic Se may be present, the marine biogenic Se source is a major contributor to atmospheric Se for our sampling locations. The contribution of naturally emitted atmospheric Se may be significant in urban and industrial areas and should be taken into account for further studies.

Mercury contamination in vicinity of secondary copper smelters in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province, China: Levels and contamination in topsoils

In the present study, we aim to investigate the extent of soil contamination by Hg, particularly by anthropogenic Hg, and tentatively estimate the total Hg (Hg T) accumulation in topsoils (0–15 cm) in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province—a secondary Cu smelter of China. The results show that the levels of soil Hg in the vicinity of the smelters have been substantially elevated following local smelting activities. The spatial distribution of soil Hg in this area reveals a rapid decrease as the distance from the smelter reaches 1.5 km, which is probably due to the quick deposition process of particulate Hg and reactive gaseous Hg emitted from the smelters. The total accumulation of Hg T in the topsoils of the study area of 10.9 km 2 is approximately 365–561 kg and of which 346–543 kg might be contributed by anthropogenic emission alone with an annual emission of 17.3–27.2 kg Hg to the topsoils.

Metal Content in Soil and Black Spruce (Picea mariana) Trees in the Sudbury Region (Ontario, Canada): Low Concentration of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Nickel Detected near Smelter Sources

Several studies have reported high metal concentrations in soil within the vicinity of smelters in the Sudbury (Ontario) region. Continued investigation and monitoring of soil and vegetation are essential to the understanding of ecosystem recovery following the reduction of emissions from smelters and the establishment of a reforestation program. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn, found in the present study were within the limits set by Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy (OMEE) guidelines even in sites within the vicinity of the Falconbridge Smelters. The levels of these elements in black spruce (Picea mariana) tissues were much lower and far below the toxic levels for vegetation. This is the first documented report of metal content in black spruce populations in the Sudbury region.

Heavy Metals Contamination in Vegetables Grown in Urban and Metal Smelter Contaminated Sites in Australia

Dietary exposure to heavy metals, namely cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), has been identified as a risk to human health through the consumption of vegetable crops. This study investigates the source and magnitude of heavy metal contamination in soil and vegetable samples at 46 sites across four vegetable growing regions in New South Wales, Australia. The four regions Boolaroo, Port Kembla, Cowra and the Sydney Basin were a mix of commercial and residential vegetable growing areas. The extent of metal contamination in soils sampled was greatest in regions located in the vicinity of smelters, such as in Boolaroo and Port Kembla. Soil metal concentrations decreased with depth at these two sites, suggesting contamination due to anthropogenic activities. Cadmium, Pb and Zn contamination was greatest in vegetables from Boolaroo, and Cu concentrations were greatest in vegetables sampled from Port Kembla. At Boolaroo, nearly all the samples exceeded the Australian Food Standards maximum level (ML) (0.01 mg kg−1 fresh weight) of Cd and Pb in vegetables. Over 63% of samples exceeded international food standard guidelines set by the Commission of the European Communities and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. All vegetables sampled from Cowra, which is a relatively pristine site had Cd and Pb levels below the Australian and international food standards guideline values. This study suggests that the Australian guideline values are more conservative in defining the ML for Cd and Pb in vegetable crops. This investigation highlights the increased danger of growing vegetables in the vicinity of smelters.

Accumulation of elements in the annual rings of Scots pine trees in the vicinity of a copper-nickel smelter measured by scanning EDXRF

Trees growing near smelters are severely affected by airborne pollution. In several projects the effects of heavy metals on the vegetation have been investigated. One method used is to measure the elemental concentrations in tree rings, which gives the possibility of comparing concentrations for different years since the tree rings to some extent reflect the conditions during the growth years. In this study, the pollution from a smelter plant in the south-western part of Finland was monitored. In the past, the emissions of heavy metals, such as copper, nickel and zinc, have been high in the area close to the smelter, but during the last 5 years the emissions from the smelter have decreased owing to new cleaning techniques. The forests in the vicinity of the smelter were studied by the Finnish Forest Research Institute, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for measurements of elements in the plants. As a complement to these measurements, high-resolution individual tree ring measurements with the energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique have been made. The aim was to see if any detectable change in wood chemistry occurred when the pollution burden was reduced. The results from trees growing in an area close to the smelter were compared with the results from trees 8 km away. Tree rings from two time periods, 1971–75 and 1991–93, were examined. Differences in the levels of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb and Sr were found between the areas. The Cu/Zn ratio was found to decrease in the last annual rings in the trees from the most polluted area. The results from the EDXRF measurements were also compared with the corresponding results from the ICP-AES measurements. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Erythrocyte D -Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (Ala-D) Activity and Blood Lead Level (Pb-B) of Tortoise (Testudo Hemanni, Gmel.) of Vicinity of Lead and Zinc Smelter “Trepca” in Kosova

In comparison with control animals, a significant negative correlation (r = 0.77 -), between lead level and the activity of daminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in the blood of land turtle (Testudo hermanni, Gmel.) caught in five different localities from heavy polluted environment of lead and zinc smelter “Trepca” was found. The concentration ratio of lead level in blood between control animals and those from the vicinity of smelter was 10:160 % and ratio of ALA-D activity was 10:18,3 U/LE.

When to order a lead level?

Elevated lead levels are a common problem in adults and especially children in the United States today. Lead is absorbed usually through the gastrointestinal tract after ingestion of leaded paint or dust contaminated with lead. Another route of exposure is inhalation from polluted air particularly in the vicinity of smelters or battery manufacturing plants. Children are especially at risk of lead toxicity because they absorb lead much more easily than adults. The pathogenesis of lead toxicity is not known. Patients can easily be screened for risk of lead toxicity with a simple series of questions. Awareness of the possibility of lead poisoning in children as well as adults is important in detection of this often subtle condition that usually causes subtle but irreversible neuropsychologic findings. Elevated lead levels can result in loss of intelligence as measured by iq paints, as well as neurobehavioral sequelae including hyperactivity and antisocial behavior. In adults lead toxicity can manifest as memory loss or mood disturbances. Treatment of lead toxicity involves removal of the source of exposure and then ehelation therapy.

Environmental pollutants in relation to complications of pregnancy.

Certain complications of pregnancy, e.g., threatened spontaneous abortion, toxemia, emesis, and anemia, were studied in pregnant women living in industrial areas contaminated by smelters and the petrochemical industry. Exposure to lead or aromatic hydrocarbons was assessed in parallel by the determination of these agents or their metabolites in blood and urine. Comparison of respective exposure levels was made between women with normal pregnancies and those with complications. Significantly higher levels of lead in blood and increased excretion of the metabolic products of organic solvents were found in women with complicated pregnancies compared to those with normal pregnancies. Threatened spontaneous abortion, toxemia, and anemia were associated with higher lead exposure in the vicinity of smelters. In these patients, evidence of disturbances of blood glutathione equilibrium and increased lipid peroxidation were found indicating a decreased ability to compensate for the effects of exposure. Styrene exposure in a petrochemical industrial area was associated mainly with late toxemia and nephropathy. Patients with these complications also had a tendency to elevated exposure to other aromatic hydrocarbons. It is suggested that complications of pregnancy may be induced by environmental agents at levels lower than those that result in pregnancy loss or preterm birth.

Evaluation of studies of the relationship between blood lead and air lead.

An evaluation of the major studies of the effects of airborne lead on blood lead levels of male and female adult and child populations is presented. Analysis of these studies shows that the blood lead-air lead slope for adults is approximately 1.0 for both men and women. This implies that an exposure to an additional 1 microgram Pb/m3 of air can result in an increase of approximately 1 microgram Pb/100 ml of blood. The precision of the slope for adults is rarely better than +/- 0.5 to +/- 0.7 and can be as large as +/- 1.0. A large portion of this uncertainty in the calculated slope is due to blood lead measurement error. The slope of the blood lead-air lead response for children ranges from 0.7 to 1.4 and is approximately the same as that for adults. The accuracy of this number is less clear for children than adults due to the small data base. Many of the studies of children have been on populations living in the vicinity of smelters. It is questioned whether these data are representative of the air lead exposure of children living in urban and suburban communities.

THE CHRONIC ARSENICAL POISONING OF HERBIVOROUS ANIMALS.2

Numerous examples are cited of cattle, horses, and sheep becoming poisoned by arsenic in the vicinity of smelters. Analyses of tissues and organs from animals revealed higher than normal levels of As. Microscopic investigations show a proliferation of the connective tissue cells, degeneration and desquamation of the tubules in the kidneys, congestion or diapedesis, hemorrhage, and occasionally a total disintegration of the cells. In some cases there is very marked fatty degeneration of the cells. The kidneys show these symptoms more prominently than the other organs.