Abstract
Ecological investigations on heavy metals and trace metals, in general, have increased markedly in recent years. The impetus for these investigations is such that we have come to realize that the biological function of most organisms is dependent upon the proper balance and availability of trace elements in their life span. For example, if we were to consider the response of an organism to exposures of various concentrations of any element, we would, in general, have four modes of response. A typical response curve would show an increasingly beneficial effect up to an optimal value. The curve would then turn downward into a tolerance region where the organism would tolerate more than its optimum requirements with little difficulty. We then enter into a “stress” region where side effects or injury to the organism would start occurring. The fourth region would be that of termination by a lethal dose. For some elements the tolerance limits are so extensive that it would be physically difficult to assault the organisms with lethal amounts. Some metals which are essential to human existence are iron, copper, manganese, vanadium, nickel, cobalt, and zinc. Other elements such as cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium, and beryllium, are known to be toxic at low to moderate concentrations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Edwards, H. W. (Principal Investigator) (1971), Impact on Man of Environmental Contamination Caused by Lead, NSF Grant G1–4, Interim Report, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colordao, June.
United States Department of the Interior (1969), Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbook, Vols. I-II, Metals, Minerals, and Fuels, Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office.
McKee, J. E. and Wolf, H. W. (1963), Water Quality Criteria, 2nd ed., Publication 3-A, April, 1971, The Resources Agency of California.
Lutz, G. A., Levin, A. A., Bloom, S. G., Nielsen, K. L., Cross, J. L., and Morrison, D. L. (1970), Lead Model Case Study, Final Report, Vol. III, U. S. Department HEW, Contract #CPS-69–005, Columbus, Ohio: Battelle Memorial Institute, June.
Edwards, H. W. (Principal Investigator) (1972), Impact on Man of Environmental Contamination Caused by Lead, NSF Grant IRPOS G1–4, RANN GI-34813X, Interim Report, Fort Collins, Colorado: Colorado State University, June.
Murozumi, M., Chow, T. J., and Patterson, C. (1969), Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, 33, 1247–1294.
National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Biological Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants (1972), LEAD: Airborne Lead in Perspective, Washington, D. C.: National Academy of Sciences, 320 pp.
Cantwell, E. N., Jacobs, E. S., Kunz, Jr., W. G., and Liberi, V. E., SAE Paper No. 720672, Presented at National Meeting of the Soc. Automotive Engineers, May 26, 1972.
Harrison, P. R., Matson, W. R., and Winchester, J. W. (1971), Atmospheric Environment, 5, 613–619.
Rahn, K. A. (1971), Sources of Trace Elements in Aerosols—An Approach to Clean Air, U. S. AEC (Argonne) Contract No. AT(II-I)-1705, The University of Michigan, May.
Fleishcher, M. (1973), Natural Sources of Some Trace Elements in the Environment, Cycling and Control of Metals, Proceedings of Envi ronmental Resources Conference, Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 1972; Cincinnati, Ohio: National Environmental Research Center, Feb.
Harrison, P. R. and Winchester, J. W. (1971), Atmospheric Environment, 5, 863–880.
Unpublished data produced from a cooperative program between Purdue University and the Department of Environmental Control, City of Chicago, NSF-RANN Program No. GI-35106, 1973.
Spittler, T. M., Tenny, K. S., Kowalski, T. A., and Harrison, P. R. (1972), The First Chicago Spectroscopy Forum, Paper #35, June.
Harrison, P. R. (1970), Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Michigan.
National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Biological Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants (1972), LEAD: Ai rborne Lead in Perspective, Washington, D. C.: National Academy of Sciences, 320 pp.
Winchester, J. W. and Nifong, G. D. (I97I), Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 1, 50–64.
Sartor, J. D. and Boyd, G. B. (1972), Water Pollution Aspects of Street Surface Contaminants, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contract No. 14–12-921, Project 11034 FUJ, EPA-R2–72-081, Washington, D. C.: U. S. EPA, Nov.
Harrison, P. R. (1972), Paper #73–161, Presented at the 65th Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association, June 18–22, Miami Beach, Florida.
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (1970), Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants and Intended Changes, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Environmental Studies Program, An Interdisciplinary Study of Environmental Pollution by Lead and Other Metals, NSF IRPOS GI-26, RANN GI-31605, Progress Report from May 1, 1971 to April 30, 1972, Graduate College, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Environmental Protection Agency (1972), Health Hazards of Lead, Revised April II.
Goldwater, L. J. (1971), Scientific American, 224(5), May, pp. 15–21.
Wroblewski, S. C., Spittler, T. M., and Harrison, P. R. (1973), Paper #73–152, Presented at the 66th Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association, June 24–28, Chicago.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1973 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Harrison, P.R. (1973). Air Pollution by Lead and other Trace Metals. In: Dhar, S.K. (eds) Metal Ions in Biological Systems. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 40. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3240-4_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3240-4_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3242-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3240-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive