Stefan Anderberg

Accumulated Environmental Impact: The Case of Cadmium in Sweden

Abstract In this study, the total flows of cadmium in Sweden in the period 1940–1990 — based on trade statistics, the manufacture of goods and the persistence of products in the environment — have been calculated. The metal industry, the mining of zinc and lead ores and the manufacturing of phosphorus fertilizers have been the dominant sources of industrial cadmium emissions to the environment. The application of fertilizers has led to the depositing of significant amounts of cadmium on agricultural land. Consumption emissions have originated from the use of cadmium in various products, e.g. rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, stabilizers in polyvinyl-chloride plastics and protective plating for metals. The total calculated emissions of cadmium in Sweden, from production and consumption, have, in the past, been approximately 1700 t. The accumulated amount of cadmium used, including cadmium in alloys and as impurities in zinc, is approximately 5000 t. The ‘societal weathering rate’ exceeded the natural rate more than 4 times in 1970, and the present rate (1990) of anthropogenic emissions is still higher than the natural release due to weathering.

Soil sensitivity due to acid and heavy metal deposition in East Central Europe

Simultaneous soil acidification and deposition of heavy metals is a major concern for forest and agricultural soils of the Black Triangle region of East Central Europe including southern former East Germany, northern Bohemia of the Czech Republic, and southern Poland. The objective of this project was to develop historical and future projections of acid and heavy metal deposition to soils (As, Cd, Pb, Zn) and to produce a preliminary map of soil sensitivity to cadmium pollution and uptake by crops. Ultimately, we wish to assess the relative hazard and recovery times of soils to metals deposition in the region. Emission and deposition data bases obtained from several models developed at IIASA were linked using the Geographical Information System ARC/INFO to produce soil maps of sensitivity to cadmium mobility based on metals deposition, soil type, soil texture, organic matter content, and acid deposition. RAINS 6.1 (Alcamo et al., 1990) was utilized to produce maps of acid deposition for EMEP grids (150 km x 150 km). The largest amount of acid load is deposited in southern East Germany. Sulfur deposition in that area was 10–12 gS/m2/yr in 1990, and S+N deposition exceeded 8000 eq/ha/yr. But the “hot spot” for metals deposition is further to the east, in the Silesia area of southern Poland. The TRACE2 trajectory model of Alcamo, Bartnicki, and Olendrzynski (1992) was used to estimate cumulative metals deposition since 1955 with scenarios to 2010. Pb has improved over Europe since 1970 when depositions in the Ruhr River Valley of West Germany exceeded 60 mg/m2/yr. But cadmium deposition in southern Poland (Katowice and Krakow) has now accumulated to 60–70 mg/m2 by atmospheric deposition alone. During base case simulations from 1955–87, approximately 1.8 mg/kg Pb and 0.12 mg/kg Cd have been added to the mixed plow-layer of ∼30 cm. If these emissions continue indefinitely, the accumulation of metals will become problematic for agriculture and the food chain.

A reconstruction of emission, flow and accumulation of chromium in Sweden 1920-1980

A reconstruction of Cr emissions in Sweden is presented. Estimations of total flows for 1920 in 1980 were based on trade statistics, production of goods and life-length of products in society. A simple model was used to calculate amounts of Cr accumulated in soil and sediment at different times. The importance of production emissions from tanneries and ferrochrome and steel plants is obvious, but, in the future, diffuse emissions of the same magnitude may occur from Cr products within urban areas.

Sustainable urban transformation and the green urban economy

This chapter explores the connections between the concepts of sustainable urban transformation and the green urban economy, proposes a framework for understanding how these concepts ‘fit’ together, and makes some practical suggestions for local governments and for national and international policy.

Informal Electronic Waste Recycling in Pakistan

The aim of this thesis was to study governance aspects of informal electronic waste recycling and to provide better knowledge of the business in terms of structure, stakeholders, governance aspects ...

Long-Term Atmospheric Transport and Deposition of Heavy Metals in Central Europe

The so-called “Black Triangle” (BT) region covers the southern part of the former German Democratic Republic, south-western Poland and the northern part of Bohemia (Czech Republic). The BT, together with the heavily industrialized Upper Silesia region in southern Poland (BTUS), is the most polluted part of Europe, mainly due to acidic compounds and heavy metals. Continuous accumulations of cadmium, lead and zinc in soils may eventually lead to serious environmental consequences. Triggered by increased soil acidification, heavy metals may become mobilized, thus leading to plant and ground water contamination (the so-called “Chemical Time Bomb”). Acid deposition in the BTUS region has been continuously monitored in the framework of the EMEP program. However, up to now, not much is known about cumulative atmospheric deposition of heavy metals. In this study, we calculated long-term atmospheric deposition of Cd and Pb to the BTUS region (and to entire Europe) during the 1955–1987 period.