Lead Aerosols in the Atmosphere: Increasing Concentrations

Abstract

The concentrations of atmospheric lead around San Diego, California, have been determined and their geographic and seasonal variations are explained. The lead aerosol concentration at San Diego is increasing at a rate of 5 percent per year. The isotopic composition of lead aerosols is similar to that of the lead additives isolated from gasoline, which are the largest contributors to atmospheric lead pollution.

Lead in the environment

“…No measurable amount of rain fell during this period. Rates and composition of fallout obtained in this set of observations are similar to those reported earlier by Chow and Earl ( 1970) for the San Diego, Calif., area.…”

“…Other studies in the United States and elsewhere have substantiated these findings. Temperature inversion phenomena in San Diego, which prevent the vertical movement of air above the base of the inversion layer, were studied by Chow and Earl ( 1970). Although pollution in San Diego is relatively low compared to that of other cities, average weekly lead concentrations of as much as 8 ng/ m 3 were measured.…”

Summary of hydrogeologic and ground-water-quality data and hydrogeologic framework at selected well sites, Adams County, Pennsylvania

“…Most metals and other trace constituents in ground water are leached from the soil or dissolved from the underlying bedrock in minute quantities by circulating ground water. Atmospheric deposition of metals such as lead has been documented in surface water (Chow and Earl, 1970;Durum and others, 1971) and may contribute to increased metal concentration in ground water. Copper, lead, and zinc in tap water may be leached from household plumbing systems by corrosive ground water.…”

Lead Contamination of the Roadside Ecosystem

“…33 Since the major source of atmospheric Pb in most areas is gasoline combustion, 34 there is a distinct air-lead gradient that increases as one approaches aggregations of roads (urban-suburban areas), with the highest atmospheric burdens in the immediate roadside environment. Ludwig et al 35 examined the annual average atmospheric Pb concentrations in 1966-67 for several remote, suburban and urban locations and suggested they were 0!022,0.09-0.…”