The environmental risk of heavy metal pollution is pronounced in soils adjacent to large industrial complexes. It is important to investigate the functioning of soil microorganisms in ecosystems exposed to long-term contamination by heavy metals. We studied the potential effects of heavy metals on microbial biomass, activity, and community composition in soil near a copper smelter in China. The...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the level of exposure of mercury (Hg) miners and smelter workers to elemental mercury (Hg(0)) vapor in China, who work in Hg mines without using protective equipment against Hg(0) vapor. In addition, the level of methylmercury (MeHg) intake by the workers was estimated from the MeHg concentration in their hair. METHODS Urinary total mercury (TH...

In this paper we develop a policy model for pollution control investment and operational decisions in the copper industry. The system consists of (i) a nonlinear integer model to optimize smelter operations, including the investment decisions relating to smelting capacity and pollution control plants that complies with environmental regulations, and (ii) a network flow model to describe the eco...

Chronic copper poisoning was investigated in ruminants within the Phalaborwa area of the Kruger National Park (KNP). Exposure of ruminants to environmental copper pollution resulting form copper smelting operations of a mine in the area was examined by comparing impala faecal copper concentrations in dung heaps and tissue (liver, lung and kidney) copper concentrations of organs collected from i...

OBJECTIVES The study attempts to define biological indicators of aluminium uptake and excretion in workers exposed to airborne aluminium compounds in a primary aluminium smelter. Also, this study defines the total and respirable aluminium dust fractions in two different potrooms, and correlates their concentrations with biological indicators in this group of workers. METHODS Air was sampled a...

*Serguei V. Koptsik, and Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899, Russia; Galina N. Koptsik, Soil Science Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899, Russia. *Corresponding author:mailto:[email protected] ABSTRACT Soil chemistry is analysed in terrestrial ecosystems subjected to airborne pollution in the fragile boreal environment in the industrial part of the Kol...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested an effect of high arsenic concentration on cognitive and neurobehavioral function in humans. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to identify demographic and nutritional factors that are associated with As exposure and the influence of this exposure on cognitive function in school-age children. METHODS We recruited 602 children 6-8 years of age living within 3.5...

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, iron, manganese, lead and zinc) in current-year, 1-year old and 2-year old needles of Pinus sylvestris L. Trees were from three heavily polluted (immediate vicinity of zinc smelter, iron smelter and power plant) and three relatively clean sites (nature reserve, ecologically clean site and unprotected natural...