title: Determining soil contamination patterns in a residential district near a copper smelter.
abstract: In 1979, a preliminary survey conducted in a district located near a copper smelter revealed elevated lead levels in the blood of some children and in the soil. In 1989, a more comprehensive study was undertaken to determine the blood lead contamination of the children and to determine soil contamination patterns. A method was devised for evaluating soil contamination by equally weighting each area of a predetermined grid. Three zones of contamination provided indirect evidence that suggested a contribution of diffuse emissions, compared with stack emissions, and assisted in the determination of priorities for remedial action.
authors.affiliation: Département de santé communautaire, Conseil régional de la santé, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gagné
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Létourneau
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003300:Copper; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D008669:Metallurgy; D011792:Quebec; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012989:Soil Pollutants
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper