Environmental Toxicology of Lead Chemical Research Paper

For instance iron and manganese oxides particulate substances or, could in addition precipitate outside solution with carbonate or sulphide (Prosi, 1989). Sediments, thus, acts like significant course of exposure to lead for marine plants and animals. The likely or probable effect levels abbreviated as PEL may be employed in assessing the extent with which undesirable biological impacts are liable to happen due to exposure to lead in sediments.

Describe pathways for Lead that can affect humans, and aquatic organisms. Are there key chemical transformations that affect the degree of impact? What are they?

The undesirable biological impacts for lead in BEDS consist of augmented transience, reduced benthic invertebrate profusion and assortment. It also results in anomalous growth. For example, in Toronto Harbour, Ontario, Jaagumagi and Lomas (1989) viewed an elevated profusion of amphipods at locations in which the average concentration of lead in the dregs was ten point eight mg kg_1. However, a small profusion of amphipods was viewed at locations in which the average concentration of lead was three hundred and ninety eight mg kg_1. This figure is greater than the freshwater probable effect levels. In sea sediments, McGreer (1982) observed that Macoma balthica which is an estuarine bivalve was missing from locations in the Fraser stream estuary. This was when concentrations of lead were eighty one point seven mg kg_1. However, these creatures were existed at location that had fourteen mg kg_1 of lead. Spike- dregs noxiousness experiments for lead revealed the commencement of noxiousness to benthic creatures at concentrations greater than those noted in ground studies. This is probable due to the smaller disclosure times utilized in laboratory experiments.

Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) of Lead Toxicity

As a result of lead's significance as a causative of civic health tribulations, several federal bureaus in USA have given consultative values or enforceable set of laws which set lead echelons in diverse media.Actually, 10 micrograms / deciliter was approved by CDC in the year nineteen ninety one as a feat echelon for kids. It was also approved as a consultative level for environmental and instructive intercession. Studies have revealed neurobehavioral mutilation kids with BLL beneath ten micrograms / deciliter (Case Studies in Environmental Medicine, 2007).

In conclusion, lead can result to severe consequences to both human beings and marine organisms. It may also cause unpleasant effects to plants. Therefore care must be exercised in order to avert the various harmful associated with lead. Besides the numerous disadvantages of lead, it has found numerous applications in the manufacturing sector.

References

Berard, M.T. (2005). PVC handbook. Munchen: Hanser.

Jaagumagi, R.D. P & Lomas, T.(1989). The in-place pollutants program, Volume V,

Part a. A synthesis of benthic invertebrate studies. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Water Resources

Branch, Aquatic Biology Section, Toronto

McGreer, E.R. 1982. Factors affecting the distribution of the bivalve,

Macoma balthica (L.) on a mudflat receiving sewage effluent, Fraser

River estuary, British Columbia. Mar. Pollut. Bull, 10(1), 259 -- 262.

Prosi, F. 1989. Factors controlling biological availability and toxic effects of lead in aquatic organisms. Sci. Total Environ, 79(1), 157 -- 169.

Water Treatment Solutions: Lenntech (n.d.). Lead. Retrieved June 17, 2010 from http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/pb.htm

U.S Environmental Protection Agency (2007, September). Lead in Drinking Water. Retrieved June 20, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/lead/index.html

Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (2007, August). Lead Toxicity

What Are the U.S. Standards for Lead Levels? Retrieved June 20, 2010 from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/lead/pb_standards2.html.....