Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Widespread Environmental Contamination Hazards in Agricultural Soils from the Use of Lead Joints in Above Ground Large-Scale Water Supply Pipelines

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lead contamination remains a persistent global environmental problem, the hazards of which are often difficult to identify without specific and targeted research. This study examines environmental contamination arising from the widespread use of lead solder in the joints of large gravity water supply pipelines. Contamination of adjacent grazing lands and subsequent poisoning of domestic livestock are evaluated. In particular, the study demonstrates that replacement of lead joints along an above ground 70 km water supply pipeline in central New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has caused soil lead contamination of up to 20,600 mg/kg. Contamination either side of the pipeline corridor extends to ∼10 m before surface soil lead values correspond more closely to natural background concentrations of 26 mg/kg. The estimated total volume of contaminated soil requiring remediation is 21,000 m3. Contamination is linked to toxicity and mortality in several farm animals and to elevated contamination of grass fodder (up to 50 mg/kg of lead) close to the pipeline. Other similar large-scale above ground reticulation systems in the Sydney (NSW) Metropolitan region and adjacent to the 560 km long Kalgoorlie (Western Australia) Golden Pipeline are shown to present similar environmental hazards. The use of lead solder joints in other international large scale reticulation networks are also identified, demonstrating that this specific anthropogenic hazard is likely to be a more global problem, which has not has been detailed in the research literature to any significant extent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allcroft, R. (1950). Lead as a nutritional hazard to farm livestock: IV. Distribution of lead in the tissues of bovines after ingestion of various lead compounds. The Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, 60, 190–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allcroft, R., & Laxter, K. (1950). Lead as a nutritional hazard to farm livestock: V. The toxicity of lead to cattle and sheep and an evaluation of the lead hazard under farm conditions. The Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, 60, 209–218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barlass, T. (2011). Cattle sales halted in toxic scare. Sydney Morning Herald, 4th September 2011. Available online at: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/cattle-sales-halted-in-toxic-scare-20110903-1jrav.html. Accessed 8 May 2015.

  • Barrett, D. (1997). Nomination of fish river water supply scheme as a national engineering landmark. In R. McLachlan (Ed.), Let’s have water: a history of the fish river water supply (p. 104). Dubbo: NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canfield, R., Henderson, C., Cory-Slecthta, D., Cox, C., Jusko, T., & Lanphear, B. (2003). Intellectual impairment in children with blood lead concentrations below 10 μg per deciliter. The New England Journal of Medicine, 348, 1517–1526.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) (2014). Trade at a Glance 2013, Australia’s trade and economic statistics. Available online at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/trade/trade-at-a-glance-2013/trade_performance_at_a_glance/part03_australias_trade_and_economic_statistics.html. Accessed 14 Feb 2014.

  • Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2011a). Media release: stock restrictions along the Chichester water pipeline, August 2011. Available online at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/archive/news-releases/agriculture/2011/stock-restrictions-along-the-chichester-water-pipeline. Accessed 17 Feb 2014.

  • Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2011b). Media release: stock restrictions along the Chichester water pipeline, September 2011. Available online at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/archive/agriculture-today-stories/ag-today-archives/september-2011/stock-restrictions-along-lead-poison-pipeline. Accessed 17 Feb 2014.

  • European Union (EU) (1986). EU Directive 86/278/EEC. Available online at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:31986L0278&from=EN. Accessed 22 April 2015.

  • European Union (EU) (2005). EU Directive 2005/87/EC. Available online at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32005L0087. Accessed 22 April 2015.

  • Evans, E. (1901). Pouring lead for a waterproof joint, 1901 (picture). Image part of the Battye Library collection, Library of Western Australia. Available online at http://www.valuingheritage.com.au/learningfederation/6131.html. Accessed 08 April 2014

  • Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) (2012). Standard 1.4.1 contaminants and natural toxicants. Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code: Com law Id F201200770. Available online at: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012C00770. Accessed 10 Dec 2012.

  • Foulds, S., Brewer, P., Macklin, M., Haresign, W., Betson, R., & Rassner, S. (2014). Flood-related contamination in catchments affected by historical metal mining: an unexpected and emerging hazard of climate change. Science of the Total Environment, 476–744, 165–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, S., & Weiss, B. (2006). A rationale for lowering the blood lead action level from 10 to 2 μg/dL. Neurotoxicology, 27, 693–701.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grancher, D., Berny, P., Devos, J., Jean-Louis, T., & Archngioli, M. (2007). Morts subites et intoxication au plomb chez les bovins (sudden death and poisoning due to lead intoxication in cows). Point Veterinaire, 38, 78–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, P., & Aronson, A. (1964). Lead poisoning in cattle and horses in the vicinity of a smelter. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 111, 595–611.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holzer, T. (1998). The Loma Prieta, California, earthquake of October 17, 1989. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1552-A. United States Government Printing Office, Washington.

  • Hunter Water Board (1995). Chichester Trunk Gravitation Main—results of soil sampling—9 March 1995. Hunter Water Board Report. Available online at: http://www.hunterwater.com.au/About-Us/GIPA-Right-to-Information/Disclosure-Log.aspx. Accessed 10 Dec 2012.

  • Hunter Water Corporation (2011). Major projects factsheet: Chichester Trunk Gravity Main–lead management. Available online at: http://www.hunterwater.com.au/Resources/Documents/Fact-Sheets/Major-Projects/Factsheet_Aug11_CTGM.pdf. Accessed 17 Feb 2014.

  • Ihedioha, J., & Okoye, C. (2012). Cadmium and lead levels in muscle and edible offal of cows reared in Nigeria. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 88, 422–427.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, A. (2013). Singapore and the Thailand Burma Railway. Edmunds: Arena Books Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane, D. (2008). Tahoe tales of historic times and unforgettable people. USA: Xlibris Corporation Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanphear, B., Hornung, R., Khoury, K., Yolton, K., Baghurst, P., Bellinger, D., Canfield, R., Dietrich, K., Bornschein, R., Greene, T., Rothenberg, S., Needleman, H., Schnaas, L., Wasserman, G., Graziano, J., & Roberts, R. (2005). Low-level environmental lead exposure and children’s intellectual function: an international pooled analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113, 894–899.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lucchini, R., Zoni, S., Guazzetti, S., Bontempi, E., Micheletti, S., Broberg, K., Parrinello, G., & Smith, D. (2012). Inverse association of intellectual function with very low blood lead but not with manganese exposure in Italian adolescents. Environmental Research, 118, 65–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda, M., Lopez-Alonso, M., Partida, G., Velasco, J., & Benedito, J. (2006). Long-term follow up of blood lead levels and haematological and biochemical parameters in heifers that survived an accidental lead poisoning episode. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A: Physiology Pathology Clinical Medicine, 53, 305–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Trust of Australia (NTA) (2013). The golden pipeline information sheet series. Available online at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/wa/resources. Accessed 19 Feb 2014.

  • Semalali, R., Dessogne, J., Monna, F., Bolte, J., Azimi, S., Navarro, N., Denaix, L., Loubet, M., Chateau, C., & van Oort, F. (2004). Modeling lead input and output in soils using lead isotopic geochemistry. Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 1513–1521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, R., & Street, J. (1980). Public health aspects of toxic heavy metals in animal feeds. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 177, 149–153.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, R., & Livesey, C. (2006). Lead poisoning in cattle and its implications for food safety. Veterinary Record, 159, 71–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silbergeld, E. (2003). Facilitative mechanisms of lead as a carcinogen. Mutation Research, 533, 121–133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silbergeld, E., Waalkes, M., & Rive, J. (2000). Lead as a carcinogen: experimental evidence and mechanisms of action. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 38, 316–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) (2011). Lead investigation—Chichester Trunk Gravity Main corridor and Pisani property, Woodberry. Investigation Report commissioned by Hunter Water Corporation. Sinclair Knight Merz, St Leonards. p 59.

  • Smith, K., Abrahams, P., Dagleish, M., & Steigmajer, J. (2009). The intake of lead and associated metals by sheep grazing mining-contaminated floodplain pastures in mid-Wales, UK: soil ingestion, soil-metal partitioning and potential availability to pasture herbage and livestock. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 3731–3739.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, M. P., & Little, J. (2013). Environmental impact of a major copper mine spill on a river and floodplain system. Anthropocene, 3, 36–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, M. P., Mackay, A. K., Hudson-Edwards, K. A., & Holz, E. (2010). Soil Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn contaminants around Mount Isa City, Queensland, Australia: potential sources and risks to human health. Applied Geochemistry, 25, 841–855.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thornton, I., & Abrahams, P. (1983). Soil ingestion—a major pathway of heavy metals into livestock grazing contaminated land. Science of the Total Environment, 28, 287–294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, E., & Suttle, N. (1999). In E. Underwood & N. Suttle (Eds.), The mineral nutrition of livestock (3rd ed., pp. 120–121). Oxfordshire: CABI.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Waldner, C., Checkley, S., Blakley, B., Pollock, C., & Mitchell, B. (2002). Managing lead exposure and toxicity in cow-calf herds to minimize the potential for flood residues. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 14, 481–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Vic and Meredith Pisani (landowners) of the Woodberry property for the access and funding of the soil chemical analysis. Adam Wethered, Marek Rouillon, Christabel Brand and Melissa Narbey are thanked for the field assistance. This project was partly funded by a Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (MQRES) (2012195) associated with an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT120100440).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    P. J. Harvey & H. K. Handley

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    P. J. Harvey & M. P. Taylor

Authors
  1. P. J. Harvey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. P. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. K. Handley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. P. Taylor.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 126 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Harvey, P.J., Taylor, M.P. & Handley, H.K. Widespread Environmental Contamination Hazards in Agricultural Soils from the Use of Lead Joints in Above Ground Large-Scale Water Supply Pipelines. Water Air Soil Pollut 226, 178 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2397-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2397-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation