Distribution of the cumulative zinc burden upon soil around galvanized pylons supporting electricity transmission lines.

Abstract

The use of galvanized steel in pylons supporting electricity transmission lines has caused soil contamination by zinc. The distribution of the cumulative zinc burden was evaluated from the zinc content in the top 60 cm of the soil around five pylons of two different types. An adequate description of the data was obtained with a model comprising a background value of the zinc content, a factor related to the time-integrated source strength and local variables characterizing exposure frequency and deposition rate. The exposure frequency factor was calculated as the sum of long-term directional wind frequencies over the range of azimuths over which winds move from the pylon to a given location. Deposition rate was related to distance from the pylon by an exponential decay function. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)