Smelter emissions, lead/zinc

Proximity to the smokestacks of metal smelters is positively associated with increased levels of lead in the hair (manes) of horses and in tissues of small mammals, and is consistent with the results of soil and vegetation analyses (USEPA 1972). Lead concentrations were comparatively high in the hair of older or chronically impaired horses (USEPA 1972). However, tissues of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected near a zinc smelter did not contain elevated levels of lead (Sileo and Beyer 1985). Among small mammals near a metal smelter, blood ALAD activity was reduced in the white-footed mouse but normal in others, e.g., the short-tailed shrew (Beyer et al. 1985). The interaction effects of lead components in smelter emissions with other components, such as zinc, cadmium, and arsenic, are unresolved (USEPA 1972) and warrant additional research. 

Due to the wide use of cadmium-based products, cadmium is widely distributed in the environment. The cadmium content in soil and water has been increasing as a result of disposal of cadmium-contaminated waste and the use of cadmium-containing fertilizers (particularly on cereal crops). Commercial sludge, contaminated with cadmium, has been used to fertilize agricultural fields. Cadmium concentrations in urban air are quite low, because of regulation of industrial air emissions. Lead and zinc smelters and waste incineration account for the majority of cadmium present in ambient air. 

It is of interest to note that during 1976 the arithmetic mean lead content of lead works emissions examined by HM Alkali Inspectorate was 0.011 g mT. It was also noted in the report of the Inspectorate [7] that at the Avonmouth primary lead-zinc-cadmium smelter of Commonwealth Smelting Ltd. (with a capacity of 40 000 tonne of lead annually), emission of lead was about 4 kg h in 1976, compared with a consent limit of 5.4 kg h . ... 

Primary copper processing results in air emissions, process wastes, and other solid-phase wastes. Particulate matter and sulfur dioxide are the principal air contaminants emitted by primary copper smelters. Copper and iron oxides are the primary constituents of the particulate matter, but other oxides, such as arsenic, antimony, cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc, may also be present, with metallic sulfates and sulfuric acid mist. Single-stage electrostatic precipitators are widely used in the primary copper industry to control these particulate emissions. Sulfur oxides contained in the off-gases are collected, filtered, and made into sulfuric acid. 

Results For the St. Louis data, the target transformation analysis results for the fine fraction without July Uth and 5th are given in table 6. The presence of a motor vehicle source, a sulfur source, a soil or flyash source, a titanium source, and a zinc source are indicated. The sulfur, titanium and zinc factors were determined from the simple initial test vectors for those elements. The concentration of sulfur was not related to any other elements and represents a secondary sulfate aerosol resulting from the conversion of primary sulfur oxide emissions. Titanium was found to be associated with sulfur, calcium, iron, and barium. Rheingrover ( jt) identified the source of titanium as a paint-pigment factory located to the south of station 112. The zinc factor, associated with the elements chlorine, potassium, iron and lead, is attributed to refuse incinerator emissions. This factor could also represent particles from zinc and/or lead smelters, though a high chlorine concentration is usually associated with particles from refuse incinerators ( ). The sulfur concentration in the refined sulfate factor is consistent with that of ammonium sulfate. The calculated lead concentration in the motor vehicle factor of ten percent and a lead to bromine ratio of about 0.28 are typical of values reported in the literature (25). The concentration of lead in... 

Standards of Performance for Secondary Emissions From Basic Oxygen Process Steelmaking Facilities for Which Construction Is Commenced After January 20, 1983 Standards of Performance for Sewage Treatment Plants Standards of Performance for Primary Copper Smelters Standards of Performance for Primary Zinc Smelters Standards of Performance for Primary Lead Smelters Standards of Performance for Primary Aluminum Reduction Plants... 

Although means are available for controlling the bulk of the emissions from the conventional lead and zinc smelters, new processes being developed offer greater economy as well as better emission control (9,10). Cominco Ltd. recently announced the development of a new process to replace the conventional lead smelting process with its sintering plants and blast furnaces (39). 

Considerable emissions can occur in the vicinity of zinc smelters, and this leads to phytotoxic zinc concentrations in the soil. On occasion, zinc intoxication has been observed in domestic cattle due to high zinc forage grown on such soils, but in general, the accompanying elements such as As, Cd, Mn, and Pb are much more important from the toxicological point of view, especially for humans. 

Thallium is obtained commercially from flue dust residues of zinc and lead smelters, and occasionally as a byproduct in cadmium production. Approximately 12 tons are produced worldwide each year for commercial use [9]. Approximately 1600 tons of thallium is released annually from emission sources such as refineries, coal-burning power plants, metal smelters, and cement plants [3]. Thallium is also released into the environment in runoff from copper and zinc mines. 

Glowiak, B., Zwozdiak, A. Zwozdiak, J. 1979. Studies of atmospheric pollution contributed by air-bome copper and zinc particulates around a copper smelter. Enciron. Protecting Enginiring 5 145-154. Harrison, R.M., Williams, C.R. 1983. Physico-chemical characterization of atmospheric trace metal emissions from a primary zinc-lead smelter. Sci. Total Environ 31 129-140. 

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