ACID PRECIPITATION - EFFECTS ON TRACE-ELEMENTS AND HUMAN HEALTH

Environmental pollution by acid precipitation increases the solubiliza tion and mobilization of toxic metals. Through the food chain, this ma y alter the intake of toxic and essential elements in man. Potential a dverse health effects could follow after increased human exposure. For the general population, the exposure pattern and health effects cause d by aluminium, cadmium, lead and mercury are of particular concern. A lthough there are several indications that the exposure to toxic eleme nts (e.g. aluminium, cadmium, lead and methylmercury), as well as the intake of essential elements (e.g. selenium), may be affected by acid precipitation, there is presently no firm evidence of adverse health e ffects in man. However, the present data clearly indicate that the saf ety margins are small. Thus, the ongoing acidification in many areas m ust be stopped before such effects become evident. The effects on trac e element status and human health by acid precipitation were discussed at the ISTERH (International Society for Trace Element Research in Hu mans) Conference in Stockholm, May, 1992. The main findings are briefl y summarized here.