Tips & Facts: Lead is a significant component of fine particulate matter

The above World Health Organization media release can be contextualised in relation to the lead content of particulate matter (PM) or fine lead particles in air pollution, with the following connections:

According to Brook et al in Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease An Update to the Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (Circulation, June 2010):

“Combustion PM is composed of many chemical compounds, including organic carbon species, elemental or black carbon, and trace metals (eg, lead and arsenic).”

As stated by Elizabeth O’Brien and Anne Roberts in Lead abatement and greenhouse gas abatement go well together (in LEAD Action News, vol 9 no 4 https://lead.org.au/lanv9n4/lanv9n4-3.html ):

“The simple truth is: all combustion creates some lead pollution, because lead is ubiquitous in the environment. All combustion also creates a range of toxic air pollution, and combustion of solid fuels creates contaminated ash and other contaminated solid waste. Here we are only listing the leaded pollution from combustion.

“Lead occurs naturally in soils and rocks so the largest source of non-anthropogenic lead air pollution is volcanic activity. According to the San Diego State University Department of Geological Sciences: “Volcanic eruptions can enhance global warming by adding CO₂ to the atmosphere. However, a far greater amount of CO₂ is contributed to the atmosphere by human activities each year than by volcanic eruptions.” “

Here’s some facts about lead (Pb) emissions from the combustion of coal.

SLIDE 17: Lead Toxicity & Climate Change: Carbon Combustion Power, (https://lead.org.au/bblp/Climate_Change/sld017.htm ) from Lead Toxicity & Climate Change [conference Powerpoint presentation] by Ian Smith; Elizabeth O'Brien; Robert Taylor; Venkatesh Thuppil. Presented at CLIMATE CHANGE: HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CHEMICALS  SDPI (Sustainable Development Policy Institute) 12TH Sustainable Development Conference, 21-23 Dec 2009, Islamabad, Pakistan. https://lead.org.au/bblp/Climate_Change/Lead_Climate_Change_20091222.ppt