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Cadmium In Forest Ecosystems Around Lead Smelters In Missouri, Nord L. Gale, Bobby G. Wixson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of Missouri's new lead belt within the past decade has provided an excellent opportunity to study the dissemination and effects of heavy metals in a deciduous forest ecosystem. Primary lead smelters, within the new lead belt have been identified as potential sources of cadmium as well as lead, zinc, and copper. Sintering and blast furnace operations tend to produce significant quantities of small particulates highly enriched in cadmium and other heavy metals. At one smelter, samples of stack particulate emissions indicate that as much as 0.21 lb of cadmium may be released to the atmosphere per hour. This …