Accumulation of Lead (Pb) Due to vehicular Emiision In Roadside Plants
Although lead naturally exists on Earth, lead concentrations in the environment have been increasing for several centuries due to human activities including mining and smelting of ores, the combustion of fossil fuels, and the dissemination of lead through industrial processes. Lead has no known essential role in biological sphere serious environmental effects can result from high level of atmospheric lead fallout, leading to detrimental changes in ecosystem and community function. Lead bioaccumulates in plant material and consequently its concentration can be magnified in food chains. Serious toxicological effects can results from high level of lead fallout. Vehicular emission is of concern particularly in urban environment that has low assimilative capacity. The emissions react forming various species in various meteorological conditions interfering with man’s activities. To counter some of these effects like fog and breathing excessive amounts of these gases, researchers are trying to discover new sources of energy and power. There are now vehicles run entirely on natural gas as opposed to petrol. Vehicular emission in typical urban centre constitute over 60% of total pollutant emission compared to industry, power plants, space heating, refuse disposal etc. Hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide emitted principally from automobiles are the major ingredients of photochemical smog. (more…)