170
Trace Elements in Abiotic and Biotic Environments
The steadily increased amounts of Pb in surface soils, both arable and uncultivated,
has been of a real health problem, as it is of a great hazard to man and animals from
both, the food chain and dust inhalation. In Pb mining areas, it is dispersed due
to the erosion and weathering of tailing materials. Most reports are on elevated Pb
concentrations in vicinities of metal-processing industries (Table 24.2). However, its
highest content (135,000 mg/kg) is reported to be in soils around battery industries.
Increased Pb levels in top soils are also resulted from Pb shots, in hunting areas and
in military-shooting sites. Robinson et  al. (2008) calculated that over 400  t of Pb
enters annually Swiss soils of such military areas. There are estimations that about
2 billion lead pellets are deposited into the environment worldwide every year (hunting and recreational shooting). It will take between 100 and 300 years to degrade
TABLE 24.2

Lead Contamination of Surface Soils (mg/kg)

Site and Pollution Source
Country
Maximum Content
Old mining area
Metal-processing industries
United Kingdom
Belgium
Germany
21,546
14,000
3,074
Greece
18,500
Holland
1,334
Japan
2,100
Poland
8,000
Russia
3,645
United States
6,500
Zambia
2,580
Battery manufactory
Chile
Poland
1,058
3,800
United States
135,000
Urban gardens and vicinities
Canada
Jamaica
888
897
United Kingdom
15,240
United States
10,900
Sludged farmlands
Germany
Holland
>800
253
United Kingdom
3,916
Roadside soils
Germany
Japan
885
397
Poland
310
United States
7,000
Source: After Kabata-Pendias, A., Trace Elements in Soils and Plants, 4th ed., CRC Press,
Boca Raton, FL, 2011.