Spear T M, Svee W, Vincent J H, Stanisich N
School of Mines, Montana Tech of The University of Montana, Butte, MT 59701-8997, USA.
Environ Health Perspect. 1998 Sep;106(9):565-71. doi: 10.1289/ehp.98106565.
The research presented in this article assessed geochemical factors relating to dust produced during primary lead smelting. Bulk dust samples and size-selective airborne dust samples were collected from four areas of a primary lead smelter and analyzed by X-ray diffraction and sequential chemical extraction. X-ray diffraction showed that the smelter dusts were composed primarily of sulfides, oxides, sulfates, and silicates of metal ores, with galena being the primary dust component. Sequential extraction revealed the solubility of lead compounds at less than 7% in the exchangeable and mildly acidic steps for the bulk dusts collected from four smelter areas. The later steps of the extraction procedure were more effective in dissolving the lead compounds associated with the bulk dust samples, with 43%, 26%, and 8% of the total lead, in the ore storage, sinter, and blast/dross smelter areas, respectively, being extracted in the residual step. Sequential extraction of coarse airborne dust samples from the ore storage and sinter plant showed that 1.2% and 4.1% of the total lead, respectively, was exchangeable. The finer particle size fractions from these areas of the smelter showed higher percentages of exchangeable lead. Of the course airborne dust from the blast/dross furnace processes, 65% of the total lead was exchangeable. However, the largest percentage of lead from these areas was associated with the finer particle-size fractions. If lead bioavailability is related to its solubility as determined through sequential extraction, the health hazards associated with lead exposure may be appreciably enhanced in the blast and dross furnace processes.
本文所呈现的研究评估了与原生铅冶炼过程中产生的粉尘相关的地球化学因素。从一家原生铅冶炼厂的四个区域采集了大量粉尘样本和粒径选择性空气传播粉尘样本，并通过X射线衍射和连续化学萃取进行分析。X射线衍射表明，冶炼厂粉尘主要由金属矿石的硫化物、氧化物、硫酸盐和硅酸盐组成，方铅矿是主要的粉尘成分。连续萃取显示，从四个冶炼厂区域采集的大量粉尘中，铅化合物在可交换和微酸性步骤中的溶解度低于7%。萃取过程的后续步骤在溶解与大量粉尘样本相关的铅化合物方面更有效，在矿石储存区、烧结区和鼓风/浮渣冶炼区，分别有43%、26%和8%的总铅在残留步骤中被萃取。对矿石储存区和烧结厂的粗颗粒空气传播粉尘样本进行连续萃取表明，总铅中分别有1.2%和4.1%是可交换的。冶炼厂这些区域中粒径更细的颗粒部分显示出更高比例的可交换铅。在鼓风/浮渣炉工艺产生的粗颗粒空气传播粉尘中，总铅的65%是可交换的。然而，这些区域中铅的最大比例与更细的粒径部分相关。如果铅的生物有效性与其通过连续萃取确定的溶解度相关，那么在鼓风炉和浮渣炉工艺中，与铅暴露相关的健康危害可能会明显增加。
