Reprinted from p1246, Environmental Science and
Technology, Vol. 27, No. 7, 1993
Sources of airborne lead can be inferred from the ratio of that
element's stable isotopes. Although this correlation has been known for more than 25
years, few studies of airborne lead isotope ratios for Asian countries have been reported.
A new study by Japanese researchers (see p. 1347 of Environ. Sci. Technol. Vol 27, No. 7
1993) of urban air in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia finds that
the continued use of leaded gasoline in most of these countries in the chief source of
this metal. However, in China and Korea - where leaded gasoline is still used - coal
combustion and pollution from industry contributed significantly to lead levels. In Japan,
where leaded gasoline has been banned since 1988, incineration appears to be the major
source for lead pollution. §
