Studies in Atmospheric Pollution by Lead in an Urban Environment

Abstract

Atmospheric particulate lead was measured at three sites within the Birmingham conurbation. The study at one site, a heavily trafficked area, was the continuation of a long term study to substantiate a predictive equation which was derived from earlier work. Traffic volume, ambient wind-speed and temperature were used to predict lead levels. A correlation coefficient R = 0.6 was obtained from the predicted and actual lead concentrations. The other two sites represented areas of urban and suburban characteristics. Differences were found between each area for the total particulate and the particulate lead. The submicron behaviour of the lead aerosol was indicated by inter-site relationships at each area. The chemical uniformity at each site was shown by the similarity of the X-ray fluorescence spectra which were obtained using the X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer coupled to a scanning electron microscope. This method was employed in identifying the chemical composition, size and structure of individual particles.