Lead Levels in Roadside Soil

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Lead Levels in Roadside Soil Aim: The aim of this investigation is to observe lead levels in soils and examine trends that may occur within these levels. Introduction: Lead is an element with the symbol Pb (from Latin: plumbum) with the atomic number 82. It is a highly malleable and soft metal which is scientifically regarded as a heavy and poor metal. Metallic lead has a bluish-white colour after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull greyish colour when exposed to air. Lead has a shiny chrome-silver lustre when it is melted into a liquid. Certain contact with lead is poisonous to animals including humans. It causes damage to the central nervous system and can cause some brain disorders. Excessive exposure to lead, however, can cause blood disorders in humans. Lead poisoning can have fatal effects and has in many cases over the years of human inhabitation of Earth. In ancient Rome, they used lead in their water system and, scientists have found that many of the Romans were being ‘driven insane’ before death by lead poisoning from the water. Metallic lead does occur in nature, but it is rare. Lead is usually found in ore with zinc, silver and (most abundantly) copper, and is extracted together with these metals. The main lead mineral is galena (PbS), which contains 86.6% lead by weight. These ores are smelted down to give the products and by-products. Production and consumption of lead is increasing worldwide. Total annual production is about 8 million tonnes; about half is produced from recycled scrap. As of 2009, Australia was one of the world’s top lead producing countries. The lead in soil, in this experiment, would most likely be caused by the deposits left by automobile exhaust when leaded gasoline was widely used. Now-a-days, leaded fuel is not used and unleaded has been implemented for a more environmentally friendly and safer alternative.

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