Historical emissions from Swedish crystal-glass production and future scenarios of soil-lead pollution

Abstract

This paper aims to describe a method of estimating historical lead emissions from glassworks in the south-eastern region of Sweden from the introduction of lead in glass-making around 1870 up to the present. Three glassworks are studied, Bostorp (1872-1915), Alsterbro (1871-1969), and Kosta (1742-present). The methodological approach to the reconstruction of the lead emissions is based partly on indirect parameters, such as the use of lead oxide (red lead), the amount of glass produced, its economic value, together with recent measurements of emissions. Actual measurements of lead emissions are available from 1975, the amount of lead oxide used from 1932, the amount of glass produced in tonnes from the 1920s, and finally, the value of the production in SEK (Swedish crowns) is available for the entire period, from the 1870s up until now. The measured values are given first priority. A factor between the lead emissions and the amount of lead oxide used was calculated and used to estimate lead emissions back to the 1930s. Further back in time, the production in tonnes was used as a prediction value in a regression analysis. Finally, the production value in SEK was used to calculate the estimates back to the 1870s. The three glassworks represent different periods ofactivity but also different magnitudes of lead emissions into the air. At Bostorp about 1 tonne of lead was emitted, at Alsterbro about 10 tonnes, while the corresponding figure for Kosta is about 200 tonnes. Based on the estimated emissions of lead, future scenarios of soil-lead pollution have been approximated using different leaching factors.Key words: lead emissions, crystal leaching, soil horizons.