Physico-chemical characterization of atmospheric trace metal emissions from a primary zinc-lead smelter.

Emissions from the stacks of a major primary zinc--lead smelter were characterised using X-ray powder diffraction spectrometry (XRD). The following chemical phases were identified: PbSO4, PbO X PbSO4, PbO, PbS, PbO, ZnO, alpha-ZnS, CdO. A complementary environmental investigation revealed that, within the works boundary, the airborne metals might be associated mainly with the fugitive blowage of coarse particles containing primary ore minerals. However, such fugitive emissions were found to be of low significance in the local environment outside the works perimeter, where fine particle emissions from the stacks of the smelter were the predominant source of airborne cadmium, lead and zinc.