A case study on atmospheric lead pollution in Izmir

In this study, the scale of lead pollution in the atmosphere and sources of pollution are determined and proposing control strategies for city of Izmir are given. Sampling of stack gases were performed at six of the most important industrial sources within the city of Izmir. The samples were analysed to find total particulate matters and their lead contents. Total lead loads due to highway traffic were determined. Measured lead emissions coming from the six selected industrial sources were given and discussed in this paper. The major reasons of atmospheric lead pollution in Izmir are gasoline engined vehicles which is calculated as 35 tons/yr, according to certain optimistic low assumptions. The total figure of approx. 2.3 tons per year of lead from main atmospheric industrial lead emitters is negligible compared to the total lead load expected from traffic. The atmospheric lead pollution due to industrial activities seems to be relatively small, probably because most of the factories utilize various control systems for particulate removal. The maximum atmospheric lead concentration is determined as 24.3 mu g/m(3) at the Karsiyaka cross and this is much higher than the 2 mu g/m(3) limit given in the Turkish Regulation for Air Quality Assurance. However, ambient air measurements showed that the lead levels which are mainly associated with vehicle traffic are found to be dramatically high at the measuring point.