[LEAD ION MONITORING] 1

William Du 12ChemC
Why (explain) is it necessary to monitor Lead levels in the environment?
The level of lead ions present in substances used in society must be monitored to ensure they are at a
suitable concentration of 50ug/L to maintain the health of animals and plants in the environment. Lead
ions are similar in size to calcium ions, and can move into bones and also move throughout ecosystems.
Atmospheric lead is deposited in vegetation, ground and water surfaces. The metal can affect all
components of the environment and can move through the ecosystem until it reaches equilibrium.
Lead accumulates in the environment, but in certain chemical environments it will be transformed in
such a way as to increase its solubility (e.g. the formations of lead sulfate in soils) and its toxicity.
Populations of microorganisms may be wiped out in soil with lead concentrations of 1,000 ppm or
more, slowing the rate of decomposition of matter. Populations of plants, microorganisms and
invertebrates may be affected by lead concentrations of 500 to 1,000 ppm, allowing more lead tolerant
populations of the same or different species to take their place such as algae. This will change the type
of ecosystem present. At all ambient atmospheric concentrations of lead, the addition of lead to
vegetation and animal surfaces can prevent normal biochemical processes, causing problems such as
eutrophication.
The pores in a plant's leaves let in carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis and emit oxygen. Lead
pollution also coats the surface of the leaf and reduces the amount of light reaching it. This results in
stunting the growth or killing the plants by reducing the rate of photosynthesis and inhibiting their
respiration.
Furthermore, as lead is a very toxic, heavy metal, no amount of it is considered safe. Lead affects the
central nervous system of animals and inhibits their ability to synthesise red blood cells. Lead blood
concentrations of above 40 ug/dl can produce observable clinical symptoms in domestic animals. It
potentially damages all organs of the body, especially the brain, kidney and reproductive system by
disrupting enzyme systems. Once entered the human body, lead inhibits the formation of haemoglobin
in red blood cells, causing anaemia and reducing the ability of blood to carry oxygen. A serious health
concern is that the brain rapidly absorbs lead. This causes neurological damage and this is correlated
with learning disabilities, impaired hearing and behavioral disorders especially in children.
Because of these serious effects of lead upon animal and plant health, there is a much-required need to
monitor the release of lead into the environment especially since it is quite often produced and
sourced from various large industries. Lead can be released into environment as elemental lead,
inorganic lead ions and organic lead. It enters our skin easily through ingestion, inhalation and
absorption. It causes bioaccumulation and once it enters the food chain, it becomes present in
increasing amounts in the tissues of organisms along the chain. This gives rise to bioconcentration.
The sources of lead that are a main concern for the environment and population includes leaded petrol.
In the 1980s-90s, this type of petrol was used extensively in particular in the LA resulting in poor air
quality and environmental and health problems. However, recently, leaded petrol has mostly been
phased out with Australia and most countries now using unleaded petrol. In countries such as
Afghanistan which still use leaded petrol to some extent, these fuels need to monitored and replaced.
Mining and refining of lead also produces fumes, dust, tailing and slag wastes contaminated with lead.
Paints used before 1950 also had a high % of lead. Until 1980s all NSW government buildings were
coated with lead. Now much needed monitoring is used on paint industry, concentrations kept to
0.25% maximum. It is especially necessary as toxic lead is released with the deterioration of paint with
age, sanding, burning or demolition. Similarly, lead glazing of pottery, corrosion of plumbing materials
have also attributed to lead emissions.
Another source that needs monitoring include the manufacturing of batteries such as lead acid. Careful
disposing of them is important and needs monitoring such as recycling as if disposed incorrectly
causes leaching into soil and environment and kills plants and animals.
Hence, since there are so many sources of lead in our industrial world today, it is increasingly
necessary to monitor the lead levels in the environment today through methods such as AAS. Such
monitoring is crucial given the detrimental effects of lead poisoning on soil quality, plant and animal
life and human health.