Lead contamination near smelters

Using Geostatistics in Assessing Lead Contamination Near Smelters... 

Even if a child is never exposed to a single large dose of lead, all of the tiny amounts a child is exposed to can add up to trouble. For instance, the average child living in a town near a smelter may have a blood-lead level of 8 micrograms per deciliter from exposure to emissions. A relatively small exposure to lead paint, therefore, will bring his or her blood lead level over the threshold of concern of 10 micrograms per deciliter. Likewise, a child who drinks lead-contaminated water will be much more likely to suffer toxic effects if exposed later to lead-contaminated soil or dust. 

The results in Table 23 indicate that there is no marked increase in translocation of lead to the aerial parts of the plants up to the two highest levels studied, but at these levels, the plant lead content is markedly enhanced. The latter levels, fortunately, correspond to a degree of soil contamination with this element which is generally unusual, even in urban environments. Such levels in the soil are normally found only in the vicinity of industrial sources of lead contamination such as smelters, or near natural deposits of lead ores. 

Carrizales L, Razo I, Tellez-Hernandez Jl, Torres-Nerio R, Torres A, Batres LE, Cubillas AC, Diaz-Barriga F (2006) Exposure to arsenic and lead of children living near a copper-smelter in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Importance of soil contamination for exposure of children. Environ Res, 101(1) 1-10. 

M. J. Buchauer, Contamination of soil and vegetation near a zinc smelter by zinc, cadmium, copper, and lead, Environ. Sci. Technol., 1, 131, 1973. 

The cultivar seeds were sown in pots filled with contaminated soil prepared from the Warynski zinc smelter site. The Warynski smelter is located near the town of Piekary Slqskie and 15 km northwest of the major population center of Katowice [pop. 345,000] (Central Statistical Office, 1999). The site is owned by the Orzel Bialy Mining Metallurgical Works, S.A. and over 1.3 million people live within a 15 km radius of this site. Zinc and lead ore smelters operated at the site from 1927 until 1990. During this activity period, the smelters produced approximately 3,500,000 tons of mixed lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) waste, deposited in piles spread across a 60 hectare site. Although limited recyclable smelting activity continues at the site, the Piekary Slaskie municipal authorities are interested in redeveloping the land for alternative industrial purposes. 

Crecelius, E.A., Johnson, C.J., Hofer, G.C., 1984. Contamination of soils near a copper smelter by arsenic, antimony and lead. Water Air Soil Pollut. 3, 337-342. 

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