OUR DAILY LEAD

The paper gives details of the distribution of lead in the earth, atmosphere, sea and plants throughout the world; the author reviews legislation introduced by various governments to control lead pollution. The primary use of lead is in lead-acid batteries, but tetraethyl lead additives for petrol used about 10 per cent of the world lead produced in 1970. It is shown that weather conditions determine the lead content of the air, and atmospheric lead concentrations for various locations are given. Particulate lead emitted from automotive exhausts is particularly suitable for retention by the lung. Measurements have been made of the lead content of human blood, high levels can be caused by atmospheric pollution, or lead in drinking water. The lead contents of soil samples from various locations in the Antarctic, American, Asian and European continents are tabulated. The burning of lead alkyl additives in automobile fuels is the major source of environmental lead pollution; steps have recently been taken by many authorities to limit the use of leaded petrol, and as a result lead aerosols in the city of New York were reduced by 50 per cent in 1972. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Chemical Society

  Burlington House, Picadilly
  London W1N 0BN,   England 
• Authors:
  • Chow, T J
• Publication Date: 1973

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 258-263
• Serial:
  • Chemistry in Britain
  • Volume: 9
  • Publisher: Chemical Society

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerosols; Air pollution; Analysis; Blood; Blood analysis; Chemical analysis; Electric batteries; Environmental impacts; Exhaust gases; Fuels; Human factors; Laws; Lead; Legislation; Manufactures; Measurement; Polar regions; Soil samplers; Soils; Water; Weather
• Geographic Terms: Canada; Europe; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Blood tests
• ITRD Terms: 1315: Battery; 2036: Blood; 8018: Canada; 1394: Catalytic converter; 2442: Emission; 8034: Europe; 3850: Fuel; 7138: Lead (metal); 1556: Legislation; 3647: Manufacture; 6136: Measurement; 8134: Polar regions; 4156: Soil; 8122: USA; 4355: Water; 2545: Weather
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00128705
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 7 1976 12:00AM