14. Environmental Impact of Alkyl Lead(IV) Derivatives: Perspective after Their Phase-out
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Abstract
The use of alkyl lead derivatives as antiknock agents in gasoline can be considered as one of the main pollution disasters of the 20th century because of both the global character of the pollution emitted and the seriousness of the impact on human health. Alkyl lead derivatives in themselves cannot be considered to be persistent pollutants because they readily degrade either before being released from the tailpipes or soon afterwards in the atmosphere. However, the inorganic lead they produced has been deposited in soils all over the planet, largely, but not exclusively in urban areas and along motorways, since the direct emission of lead into the atmosphere favored its dispersal over great distances: The signal of the massive use of alkyl lead derivatives has been found all over the world, including in remote sites such as polar areas. The short residence time of lead in the atmosphere implies that this compartment is highly responsive to changes in emissions. This was demonstrated when leaded gasoline was phased-out and is in striking contrast to the very long permanence of inorganic lead in soils, where resuspension is a permanent source of toxic lead.
Abstract
The use of alkyl lead derivatives as antiknock agents in gasoline can be considered as one of the main pollution disasters of the 20th century because of both the global character of the pollution emitted and the seriousness of the impact on human health. Alkyl lead derivatives in themselves cannot be considered to be persistent pollutants because they readily degrade either before being released from the tailpipes or soon afterwards in the atmosphere. However, the inorganic lead they produced has been deposited in soils all over the planet, largely, but not exclusively in urban areas and along motorways, since the direct emission of lead into the atmosphere favored its dispersal over great distances: The signal of the massive use of alkyl lead derivatives has been found all over the world, including in remote sites such as polar areas. The short residence time of lead in the atmosphere implies that this compartment is highly responsive to changes in emissions. This was demonstrated when leaded gasoline was phased-out and is in striking contrast to the very long permanence of inorganic lead in soils, where resuspension is a permanent source of toxic lead.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- About the Editors v
- Historical Development and Perspectives of the Series Metal Ions in Life Sciences vii
- Preface to Volume 17 ix
- Contents xiii
- Contributors to Volume 17 xix
- Titles of Volumes 1–44 in the Metal Ions in Biological Systems Series xxiii
- Contents of Volumes in the Metal Ions in Life Sciences Series xxv
- 1. The Bioinorganic Chemistry of Lead in the Context of Its Toxicity 1
- 2. Biogeochemistry of Lead. Its Release to the Environment and Chemical Speciation 21
- 3. Analytical Methods for the Determination of Lead in the Environment 49
- 4. Smart Capsules for Lead Removal from Industrial Wastewater 61
- 5. Lead Speciation in Microorganisms 79
- 6. Human Biomonitoring of Lead Exposure 99
- 7. Solid State Structures of Lead Complexes with Relevance for Biological Systems 123
- 8. Lead(II) Complexes of Amino Acids, Peptides, and Other Related Ligands of Biological Interest 201
- 9. Lead(II) Binding in Metallothioneins 241
- 10. Lead(II) Binding in Natural and Artificial Proteins 271
- 11. Complex Formation of Lead(II) with Nucleotides and Their Constituents 319
- 12. The Role of Lead(II) in Nucleic Acids 403
- 13. Historical View on Lead: Guidelines and Regulations 435
- 14. Environmental Impact of Alkyl Lead(IV) Derivatives: Perspective after Their Phase-out 471
- 15. Lead Toxicity in Plants 491
- 16. Toxicology of Lead and Its Damage to Mammalian Organs 501
- Subject Index 535
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- About the Editors v
- Historical Development and Perspectives of the Series Metal Ions in Life Sciences vii
- Preface to Volume 17 ix
- Contents xiii
- Contributors to Volume 17 xix
- Titles of Volumes 1–44 in the Metal Ions in Biological Systems Series xxiii
- Contents of Volumes in the Metal Ions in Life Sciences Series xxv
- 1. The Bioinorganic Chemistry of Lead in the Context of Its Toxicity 1
- 2. Biogeochemistry of Lead. Its Release to the Environment and Chemical Speciation 21
- 3. Analytical Methods for the Determination of Lead in the Environment 49
- 4. Smart Capsules for Lead Removal from Industrial Wastewater 61
- 5. Lead Speciation in Microorganisms 79
- 6. Human Biomonitoring of Lead Exposure 99
- 7. Solid State Structures of Lead Complexes with Relevance for Biological Systems 123
- 8. Lead(II) Complexes of Amino Acids, Peptides, and Other Related Ligands of Biological Interest 201
- 9. Lead(II) Binding in Metallothioneins 241
- 10. Lead(II) Binding in Natural and Artificial Proteins 271
- 11. Complex Formation of Lead(II) with Nucleotides and Their Constituents 319
- 12. The Role of Lead(II) in Nucleic Acids 403
- 13. Historical View on Lead: Guidelines and Regulations 435
- 14. Environmental Impact of Alkyl Lead(IV) Derivatives: Perspective after Their Phase-out 471
- 15. Lead Toxicity in Plants 491
- 16. Toxicology of Lead and Its Damage to Mammalian Organs 501
- Subject Index 535
