Aerosol and Roadside Lead as Environmental Hazard

Abstract

Pollution of the air and of the soil through roadside fallout is an increasing environmental hazard and an increasingly serious insult to health. Micro-spatial geographical patterns of aerosol and roadside lead contamination may be observed, related to steep vertical and horizontal contamination gradients, with associated diurnal pulsations. Macro-spatial metropolitan pools of contaminated air and surface soil are also identified, as well as global, hemispheric, oceanic, and seasonal patterns. Given adequate data, most of these patterns are geographically predictable at multiple scales. The problem is man-made and will be man-solved with appropriate legislation, surveillance, and implementation at both national and international levels.