In our research on non ferrous metals, we focus on a number of aspects that we consider relevant when studying the environmental impact non-ferrous metals, since they discriminate metals (i.e., natural and essential metals) from xenobiotic substances:
- Natural cycles and bioavailability
Increased levels of metals, including essential elements, may occur resulting from human activities, such as mining, smelting and refining industries, the combustion of fossil fuels and the release of sewage and agricultural wastes. These human activities can be considered as side-tracks in the natural cycle: metals are removed from the cycle, used in products and processes and subsequently returned into the cycle.
- Deficiency, homeostatic regulation and toxicity
In evolution, species or populations of species have become conditioned to the background availability of essential elements of their natural environment. In cases where this environment has high concentrations relative to the “normal” environment, organisms are not only more tolerant to high environmental levels, but may even depend on relatively high background levels for optimal functioning. Similarly, where environments exist with a background concentration substantially below “normal”, the native biota will be conditioned to these naturally low essential element concentrations.
- Ecological considerations
Considering the wide range of natural background concentrations, the range of concentrations causing deficiency and toxicity may overlap for different species or different populations of species conditioned to areas with different background concentrations. The natural background concentration (range) of a certain region will determine the concentration range at which (local) biota can persist.
Our clients include:
- International Zinc Association
- European Copper Agency
- Stichting Duurzaam Bouwmetaal
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