LEAD CONTAMINATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE EARTH'S SURFACE

THERE NOW EXISTS WIDESPREAD POLLUTION OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE AND ATMOSPHERE BY LEAD COMPOUNDS. ATMOSPHERIC LEAD IS THE MOST SERIOUS CONTAMINANT. WHEN LEAD ENTERS THE BODY THROUGH THE LUNGS, IT REACHES THE GENERAL CIRCULATION, WHEREAS WHEN INGESTED BY MOUTH, IT IS LARGELY EXCRETED BY THE LIVER IN THE BILE AND DISCHARGED IN THE FECES. A SMALL PORTION OF THE LEAD, HOWEVER ACQUIRED REMAINS IN THE BODY AND WHEN IT REACHES A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH LEVEL IT CAUSES LEAD POISONING. MAN'S TROUBLES WITH INDUSTRIAL LEAD BEGAN AS EARLY AS 2500 B.C., WHEN THE MINING AND SMELTING OF LEAD ORES BEGAN. SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION THE CONCENTRATION OF LEAD IN THE ATMOSPHERE, SURFACE WATERS, AND THE OCEANS HAS SHARPLY INCREASED. PATTERSON AND HIS COLLABORATORS HAVE TRACED THE RATE OF THIS INCREASE BY MEASURING THE AMOUNTS OF LEAD IN SUCCESSIVE ANNUAL LAYERS OF SNOW DEPOSITED IN NORTHERN GREENLAND OVER SEVERAL CENTURIES. AT ABOUT 1940 LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN SNOW ROSE ABRUPTLY AND INCREASED BY A FACTOR OF THREE, IN ONLY TWO DECADES. THE LARGEST SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE AT PRESENT IS THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY THROUGH ITS PRODUCTION OF ANTI-KNOCK MOTOR FUELS CONTAINING ALKYLS. PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, DR. PATTERSON STATED, ARE NOT ADEQUATELY FACING THE HAZARDS OF LEAD POLLUTION. /ARTICLE/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 114, No 1, P 9
• Corporate Authors:

  American Philosophical Society

  Symposium on Atmospheric Pollution
  Philadephia, PA  United States  19106
• Authors:
  • PATTERSON, C
• Publication Date: 1970-2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Contaminants; Industrial plants; Lead compounds; Petroleum industry; Respiratory system
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223148
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 27 1970 12:00AM