EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT TO HEAVY METALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT: MEASURES TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE THE EXPOSURE TO CRITICAL RECEPTORS

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2010

Authors

Maria De Lurdes Dinis (Author) FEUP; António Fiúza (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Environmental Heavy Metal Pollution and Effects on Child Mental Development

Pages: 27-50

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Environmental Heavy Metal Pollution and Effects on Child Mental Development - Risk Assessment and Prevention Strategies

Sofia, Bulgaria, 28 April - 1 May, 2010

Indexing

ISI Proceedings

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences

CORDIS: Natural sciences > Environmental science ; Natural sciences > Biological sciences ; Physical sciences > Mathematics

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-ARH

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-0253-0_2

Abstract (EN): The anthropogenic sources for heavy metals include mining, industrial productions, untreated sewage sludge and combustion by-products produced by coal burning power plants. Atmospheric emissions are probably the most preoccupant to human health and to the environment due to either the great quantity involved, or their widespread dispersion. Mercury, lead and cadmium represent a great issue, mostly due to their ability to travel long distances in the atmosphere before deposition. Exposure assessment to emissions of heavy metals implies to identify and quantify the sources, how heavy metals may be dispersed in the environment and which adverse effects they might cause on human health and on the ecosystem. Heavy metals emissions and releases into the environment are available at the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR, 2010). In this data base main sources from 27 European countries are identified. Data concerning Cd, Hg and Pb were extracted for the year of 2007. This work focuses on the review and analysis of the principal sources of heavy metals emissions into the environment and their role in critical receptors' environmental exposure. The review of the principal sources may give a clearer picture of the situation: the potential regions at risk and the extension of the contamination, essential to the exposure assessment by critical receptors. On the other hand, exposure assessments studies and consequent research allow a better knowledge of heavy metals sources, emissions, pathways and fate in the environment. Therefore both a complete exposure assessment and a consequent risk assessment are needed to establish the identification and implementation of measures to eliminate or to reduce the exposure.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: https://www.authenticus.pt/en/publications/view/109329 AuthID: P-003-ARH

No. of pages: 24