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Consequences of environmental contamination by lead mining in Wales

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Ecological Effects of In Situ Sediment Contaminants

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 39))

Abstract

Lead mining in Wales originated before the Roman Occupation. The main active period was from 1750–1900 when zinc and copper were also mined and during this period only simple and inefficient ore processing methods were available. Consequently large amounts of copper, lead and zinc compounds were lost to the environment and have since become incorporated in sediments and soils. Locally, pollution may still occur from drainage from abandoned mines and by mobilization of mine tailings. This paper describes the present state of Welsh rivers and reviews the distribution of contaminants in sediments and soils. The uptake of heavy metals by plants and the consequences for human health are also discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, England

    Brian E. Davies

Authors
  1. Brian E. Davies
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Regional Office, 100 Ouellette Avenue, 8th Floor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N9A 6T3

    Richard L. Thomas  & Trefor B. Reynoldson  & 

  2. International Joint Commission, 8th Floor, 100 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1P 5M1

    A. L. Hamilton

  3. Great Lakes Fisheries Research Branch, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, P.O. Box 5050, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6

    M. Munawar

  4. Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office, Fontaine Building, 13th Floor, Hull, Quebec, Canada, K1A 0H3

    M. Husain Sadar

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© 1987 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht

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Davies, B.E. (1987). Consequences of environmental contamination by lead mining in Wales. In: Thomas, R.L., Evans, R., Hamilton, A.L., Munawar, M., Reynoldson, T.B., Sadar, M.H. (eds) Ecological Effects of In Situ Sediment Contaminants. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4053-6_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4053-6_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8299-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4053-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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