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LEAD - ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

This document considers the effect of lead toxicity on populations of organisms in the environment. Possible effects on human health are to be covered in a separate publication. Subjects covered here include: 1) physical and chemical properties of lead and sources of pollution such as smelting, refining, burning of leaded petrol and metallic lead from shotgun cartridges and fish weights; 2) uptake, loss and accumulation in organisms, in experimental studies and in the field, including roadside sites; 3) the toxicity to microorganisms of lead salts and organic lead; 4) toxicity to aquatic organisms, including plants, invertebrates, fish and amphibia; 5) toxicity to terrestrial organisms, including plants, invertebrates, birds, non laboratory mammals, and 6) the effects of lead in the field. It is concluded that in evaluating the environmental hazard of lead it is necessary to use extreme caution when extrapolating from laboratory studies to ecosystems. Lead uptake by aquatic organisms is slow and reaches equilibrium only after prolonged exposure; toxicity varies considerably depending on availability, uptake, and species sensivity; generally, the earlier life stages are more vulnerable. Lead interferes with biochemical, physiological, morphological and behavioural parameters. In terrestrial communities there is insufficient evidence to indicate a hazard from airborne lead. Normal concentrations of lead in soil range from 15 to 30 mg/kg; roadside soils can reach 5000 mg/kg and soils from industrial sites may exceed 30000 mg/kg. Generally, lead is not toxic to plants at soil concentrations below 1000 mg/kg. Animals are exposed to lead through the ingestion of water, food, soil and dust. It is improbable that environmental exposures cause acute adverse effects in most terrestrial populations, apart from certain bird populations. Laboratory studies indicate that the expected effects on animals would be changes in behaviour, disruption of haematological metabolism, and inhibition of certain enzymes. There may be a strong correlation with calcium metabolism.

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  • Corporate Authors:

    World Health Organization

    20 Avenue Appia
    1211 Geneva 27,   Switzerland 
  • Publication Date: 1989

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00606312
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
  • ISBN: 92-4-154285-3
  • Report/Paper Numbers: EHC 85
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 31 1991 12:00AM