Platinum Group Elements in the Environment: Emissions and Exposure - Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - page 111

Chapter 3
Platinum Group Elements in the Environment:
Emissions and Exposure

Aleksandra Dubiella-Jackowska, śaneta Polkowska, and Jacek Namieńnik

Contents
1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 111
2 Characteristics of PGEs ....................................................................................................... 112
3 Production and Application of PGEs ................................................................................... 113
4 Environmental Emission Sources of PGEs .......................................................................... 113
4.1 Emission of PGEs from Vehicle Exhaust Catalysts ................................................... 113
4.2 Emission of PGEs via Hospital Wastewater .............................................................. 117
4.3 Other Environmental Emission Sources of PGEs...................................................... 119
5 Bioavailability of and Occupational Exposure to PGEs ...................................................... 119
5.1 Effects on Plants ........................................................................................................ 119
5.2 Effects on Animals .................................................................................................... 120
5.3 Evaluation of Human Health Risks ........................................................................... 121
6 Concentration Levels of PGEs in the Environment ............................................................. 123
7 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 124
References.................................................................................................................................. 129

1 Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to address the production, applications, and emission
sources of the platinum group elements (PGEs). It includes a presentation of the
effects these metals have on humans from occupational and environmental
exposure. In addition, a brief literature review is presented that addresses the con-
centrations of PGEs found in environmental samples such as soil, road dust, road
tunnel dust, airborne particulate matter, sediments, wastewater, snow, drinks, and
samples of flora and fauna.
PGEs are metals that occur in the lithosphere at very low concentrations. Uses of
PGEs are rapidly increasing [e.g., for vehicle exhaust catalysts (VECs), electronics,
jewelry production, and the pharmaceutical industry]. Their increasing use is result-