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Methylation of lead in the environment

Nature volume 253, pages 263–264 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

LEAD is one of the most toxic metals found in the environment and is of great concern because of its widespread occurrence in nature, but its fate is largely unknown1. Much of the lead dispersed by man is eventually washed into natural waters and is presumably precipitated into the sediments2. The methylation of mercury and arsenic by microorganisms in the environment has been documented and well summarised3. Nothing, however, has been known about the existence of organic forms of lead in the environment as a result of biotransformation4.

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References

  1. Lead in the Canadian Environment (Publication No. BY 73-7 (ES)) ch. 2 (National Research Council, Canada, 1973).

  2. Labarre, N., Milne, J. B., and Oliver, B. G., J. Water Res., 7, 1215–1218 (1973).

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  3. Wood, J. M., Science, 183, 1049–1052 (1974).

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  4. Lead. Airborne lead in perspective, 18 (Natn. Acad. Sci. Washington, D.C., 1972).

  5. Shapiro, H., and Frey, F. W., The Organic Compounds of Lead, 288 (Interscience, New York, 1968).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Great Lakes Biolimnology Laboratory and Lakes Research Division, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Department of the Environment, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

    P. T. S. WONG, Y. K. CHAU & P. L. LUXON

Authors
  1. P. T. S. WONG
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  2. Y. K. CHAU
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  3. P. L. LUXON
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WONG, P., CHAU, Y. & LUXON, P. Methylation of lead in the environment. Nature 253, 263–264 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253263a0

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