Heavy Metals

Paper Summary:

The paper explores the causes, effects and solutions of heavy metals and their political, societal and economic ramifications. The paper shows how, although heavy metals are essential for many human endeavors, a growing body of evidence suggests that long-term exposure to such substances can have significant adverse health consequences.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The encyclopedic entry for the term shows that heavy metals include the most dense metals, such as osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, tungsten, uranium, tantalum, mercury, hafnium, lead, and silver (Heavy metals, 2007). According to Farmer, there are a number of metals that are toxic to plants and animals, many of which occur naturally in varying concentrations, due to rock and soil weathering and volcanic activity; human activity, though, can cause significant amounts of additional emissions of such substances. This author advises, "Most metal processing operations will emit varying quantities of metals, as is to be expected. However, there are also other significant sources, such as fossil fuel burning (coal and oil contain traces of heavy metals)" (Farmer, 1997, p. 26). To date, the most heavily publicized heavy metals emissions involve those with lead in motor vehicle exhausts, where the lead component is specifically added to the gasoline product as an anti-knocking agent (Farmer)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baos, R., Blas, J., Bortolotti, G. R., Marchant, T. A. & Hiraldo, F. (2006). Adrenocortical response to stress and thyroid hormone status in free-living nestling white storks (Ciconia Ciconia) exposed to heavy metal and arsenic contamination. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(10), 1497.
• Bothwell, S. (2001, Fall). Spreading it. Alternatives Journal, 27(4), 10.
• Carter, F. W. & Turnock, D. (2002). Environmental problems of East Central Europe. London: Routledge.
• Coon, S., Stark, A., Peterson, E., Gloi, A., Kortsha, G., Pounds, J., Chettle, D. & Gorell, J. (2006). Whole-body lifetime occupational lead exposure and risk of Parkinson's disease. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(12), 1872.
• Dunn, S. (2001, May). Heavy metals from cars reach Greenland. World Watch, 14(3), 11.

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