LEAD IN THE ENVIRONMENT

The occurrence, transport, distribution, and possible environmental effects of lead are investigated. Three projects have developed analytical techniques and methodologies for determining lead and following it from source to ultimate sink through both living and nonliving ecosystem components. Colorado State University concentrated on characterizing the atmospheric component of lead emissions from automotive sources and determining its movement in the environment. At the University of Illinois, lead inputs, accumulation, transport, and outputs were determined in an 86-sq. mi. watershed where intensive agriculture (corn and soybeans) is the dominant land use. The primary source of lead is automotive emissions. The accumulation of lead along busy highways and city streets and its possible movement through both terrestrial and aquatic food chains have received particular attention. The primary lead source studied at the University of Missouri is the mining, milling, and smelting operations in one of the newest and largest lead-producing industries of the world. This document: (1) provides a general background for research related to the environmental effects of lead; (2) discusses the transport and distribution of lead in an ecosystem context; (3) evaluates the effect of lead on living organisms; (4) examines the control of lead emissions from industrial and automotive exhaust sources; and (5) analyzes the economic aspects of controlling emissions from the combustion of leaded gasoline.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Illinois Univ. at Urbana-Champaign, and Missouri Univ.-Rolla.
• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado State University, Fort Collins

  Fort Collins, CO  United States  80523

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Urbana, IL  United States  61801

  University of Missouri, Rolla

  Department of Civil Engineering, 1870 Miner Circle
  Rolla, MO  United States  65409

  National Science Foundation

  1800 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20550
• Authors:
  • Boggess, W R
  • Wixson, B G
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Pagination: 264 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Animals; Atmosphere; Atmospheric diffusion; Chemical analysis; Chemical properties; Concentration (Chemistry); Ecology; Economic factors; Environment; Environmental impacts; Exhaust gases; Gasoline; Industrial wastes; Lead (Metal); Microorganisms; Mining; Monitoring; Motor vehicles; Physical distribution; Physical properties; Pollution control; Public health; Smelting; Soils; Surveys; Toxicity; Transport properties (Physics); Water pollution
• Uncontrolled Terms: Sources; Transport properties
• Old TRIS Terms: Circulation; Economic considerations; Environmental surveys; Exhaust emission control
• Subject Areas: Economics; Environment; Freight Transportation; Geotechnology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175788
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NSF-RA-770214
• Contract Numbers: NSF-ENV74-24276,, NSF-AEN74-17624
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1978 12:00AM