Environmental Trace Metal Contamination in Kellogg, Idaho, Near a Lead Smelting Complex

Soil cores, grass, and ambient air aerosols were sampled for 34 elements by instrumental neutron activation and X-ray fluorescence near a lead smelting complex in Kellogg, Ida. Cadmium, antimony, silver, lead, gold, zinc, selenium, arsenic, indium, nickel, copper, and mercury were the most highly enriched, ranging in surface soils up to 7900 ppm lead, 29,000 ppm zinc, and 140 ppm cadmium. For grasses, lead ranged up to 10,000 ppm and cadmium to 4400 ppm. Aerosol enrichments above contributions from local resuspended soils were 4100 for cadmium, 180 for arsenic, 110 for lead, and 60 for zinc.