Skip to main content
PMC home page
Environmental Health Perspectives logoLink to Environmental Health Perspectives
. 1981 Aug;40:43–64. doi: 10.1289/ehp.814043

Sources, transport and alterations of metal compounds: an overview. I. Arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, and nickel.

L Fishbein
PMCID: PMC1568819  PMID: 7023934

Abstract

An overview is presented of the current state of knowledge of the salient aspects of the sources, transport, and alterations of arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, and nickel. This information is considered vital for a better assessment of the scope of potential human hazard to these ubiquitous toxicants and their compounds. Stress is focused on both natural and industrial activities, particularly on the latter's projected trends. Increasing use patterns per se of most of these metals, as well as aspects of waste disposal and the anticipated increased combustion of fossil fuels for power generation and space heating (particularly in the United States), are major causes of potential health concern. Additionally, attention is drawn to the need for increased research to fill the gaps in our knowledge in these vital areas, all in the hope of permitting a more facile identification and quantification of the potential hazard to exposure to these agents.

Full text

PDF
44

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baker D. E., Amacher M. C., Leach R. M. Sewage sludge as a source of cadmium in soil-plant-animal systems. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:45–49. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792845. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Balgord W. D. Fine particles produced from automotive emissions-control catalysts. Science. 1973 Jun 15;180(4091):1168–1169. doi: 10.1126/science.180.4091.1168. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Berrow M. L., Webber J. Trace elements in sewage sludges. J Sci Food Agric. 1972 Jan;23(1):93–100. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.2740230112. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bingham F. T. Bioavailability of Cd to Food crops in relation to heavy metal content of sludge-amended soil. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:39–43. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792839. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Brinckman F. E., Parris G. E., Blair W. R., Jewett K. L., Iverson W. P., Bellama J. M. Questions concerning environmental mobility of arsenic: needs for a chemical data base and means for speciation of trace organoarsenicals. Environ Health Perspect. 1977 Aug;19:11–24. doi: 10.1289/ehp.771911. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DENTON C. R., KEENAN R. G., BIRMINGHAM D. J. The chromium content of cement and its significance in cement dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 1954 Sep;23(3):189–192. doi: 10.1038/jid.1954.98. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Engel D. W., Fowler B. A. Factors influencing cadmium accumulation and its toxicity to marine organisms. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:81–88. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792881. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fassett D. W. Cadmium: biological effects and occurrence in the enviroment. Annu Rev Pharmacol. 1975;15:425–435. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pa.15.040175.002233. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fishbein L. Environmental metallic carcinogens: an overview of exposure levels. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1976 Sep;2(1):77–109. doi: 10.1080/15287397609529419. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Frazier J. M. Bioaccumulation of cadmium in marine organisms. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:75–79. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792875. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Frost D. V. Arsenicals in biology--retrospect and prospect. Fed Proc. 1967 Jan-Feb;26(1):194–208. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Furr A. K., Kelly W. C., Bache C. A., Gutenmann W. H., Lisk D. J. Multielement absorption by crops grown in pots on municipal sludge-amended soil. J Agric Food Chem. 1976 Jul-Aug;24(4):889–892. doi: 10.1021/jf60206a051. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gale N. L., Wixson B. G. Cadmium in forest ecosystems around lead smelters in Missouri. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:23–37. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792823. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gibbs R. J. Mechanisms of trace metal transport in rivers. Science. 1973 Apr 6;180(4081):71–73. doi: 10.1126/science.180.4081.71. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Greig R. A., Wenzloff D. R., Adams A., Nelson B., Shelpuk C. Trace metals in organisms from ocean disposal sites of the middle eastern United States. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 1977;6(4):395–409. doi: 10.1007/BF02097780. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Griggs K. Toxic metal fumes from mantle-type camp lanterns. Science. 1973 Aug 31;181(4102):842–843. doi: 10.1126/science.181.4102.842. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kjellström T. Exposure and accumulation of cadmium in populations from Japan, the United States, and Sweden. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:169–197. doi: 10.1289/ehp.28-1637502. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kneip T. J., Eisenbud M., Strehlow C. D., Freudenthal P. C. Airborne particulates in New York City. J Air Pollut Control Assoc. 1970 Mar;20(3):144–149. doi: 10.1080/00022470.1970.10469385. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kneip T. J., Hazen R. E. Deposit and mobility of cadmium in a marsh-cove ecosystem and the relation to cadmium concentration in biota. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:67–73. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lee R. E., Jr, Lehmden D. J. Trace metal pollution in the environment. J Air Pollut Control Assoc. 1973 Oct;23(10):853–857. doi: 10.1080/00022470.1973.10469854. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lindau L. Emissions of arsenic in Sweden and their reduction. Environ Health Perspect. 1977 Aug;19:25–29. doi: 10.1289/ehp.771925. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mertz W. Chromium occurrence and function in biological systems. Physiol Rev. 1969 Apr;49(2):163–239. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1969.49.2.163. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Morgan W. D. New ways of measuring cadmium in man. Nature. 1979 Dec 13;282(5740):673–674. doi: 10.1038/282673a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Muskett C. J., Roberts L. H., Page B. J. Cadmium and lead pollution from secondary metal refinery operations. Sci Total Environ. 1979 Jan;11(1):73–87. doi: 10.1016/0048-9697(79)90035-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Natusch D. F., Wallace J. R., Evans C. A., Jr Toxic trace elements: preferential concentration in respirable particles. Science. 1974 Jan 18;183(4121):202–204. doi: 10.1126/science.183.4121.202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Nelson K. W. Industrial contributions of arsenic to the environment. Environ Health Perspect. 1977 Aug;19:31–34. doi: 10.1289/ehp.771931. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Neufeld R. D., Hermann E. R. Heavy metal removal by acclimated activated sludge. J Water Pollut Control Fed. 1975 Feb;47(2):310–329. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Pattison E. S., Sollins I. V., Angino E. E., Magnuson L. M., Waugh T. C., Galle O. K., Bredfeldt J. Arsenic and water pollution hazard. Science. 1970 Nov 20;170(3960):870–870. doi: 10.1126/science.170.3960.870. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Penrose W. R., Conacher H. B., Black R., Méranger J. C., Miles W., Cunningham H. M., Squires W. R. Implications of inorganic/organic interconversion on fluxes of arsenic in marine food webs. Environ Health Perspect. 1977 Aug;19:53–59. doi: 10.1289/ehp.771953. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Reeves A. L. Beryllium in the environment. Clin Toxicol. 1977;10(1):37–48. doi: 10.3109/15563657708987958. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Ridley W. P., Dizikes L., Cheh A., Wood J. M. Recent studies on biomethylation and demethylation of toxic elements. Environ Health Perspect. 1977 Aug;19:43–46. doi: 10.1289/ehp.771943. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Saxena J., Howard P. H. Environmental transformation of alkylated and inorganic forms of certain metals. Adv Appl Microbiol. 1977;21:185–226. doi: 10.1016/s0065-2164(08)70042-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Schroeder H. A. A sensible look at air pollution by metals. Arch Environ Health. 1970 Dec;21(6):798–806. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1970.10667334. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Sharma R. P., Street J. C., Verma M. P., Shupe J. L. Cadmium uptake from feed and its distribution to food products of livestock. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:59–66. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792859. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Stoeppler M., Nürnberg H. W. Comparative studies on trace metal levels in marine biota. III. Typical levels and accumulation of toxic trace metals in muscle tissue and organs of marine organisms from different European seas. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 1979 Dec;3(4):335–351. doi: 10.1016/0147-6513(79)90023-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Summers A. O., Silver S. Microbial transformations of metals. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1978;32:637–672. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.32.100178.003225. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Sunderman F. W., Jr The current status of nickel carcinogenesis. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1973 May-Jun;3(3):156–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Tiffin L. O. Translocation of nickel in xylem exudate of plants. Plant Physiol. 1971 Sep;48(3):273–277. doi: 10.1104/pp.48.3.273. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Van Hook R. I. Cadmium, lead, and zinc distributions between earthworms and soils: potentials for biological accumulation. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1974 Oct;12(4):509–512. doi: 10.1007/BF01684990. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Van Hook R. I. Transport and transportation pathways of hazardous chemicals from solid waste disposal. Environ Health Perspect. 1978 Dec;27:295–308. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7827295. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Walsh L. M., Sumner M. E., Keeney D. R. Occurrence and distribution of arsenic in soils and plants. Environ Health Perspect. 1977 Aug;19:67–71. doi: 10.1289/ehp.771967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Wood J. M. Biological cycles for toxic elements in the environment. Science. 1974 Mar 15;183(4129):1049–1052. doi: 10.1126/science.183.4129.1049. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Woolson E. A. Fate of arsenicals in different environmental substrates. Environ Health Perspect. 1977 Aug;19:73–81. doi: 10.1289/ehp.771973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Yamagata N. Industrial emission of cadmium in Japan. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:17–22. doi: 10.1289/ehp.792817. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Yost K. J. Some aspects of cadmium flow in the U.S. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:5–16. doi: 10.1289/ehp.79285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Environmental Health Perspectives are provided here courtesy of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

RESOURCES