Do current zinc emissions present an ecotoxicological risk for the environment?
No, in the developed countries, current emissions of zinc into the environment present no ecotoxicological risk. Zinc is a natural element which is found throughout the environment (water, air, soil and rocks). Localised emissions of zinc into the environment can be from natural sources such as volcanic emissions, or be of human origin, for example: worn tires, atmospheric corrosion from galvanised steel or rolled zinc, from fertilisers and cattle fodder. In the developed countries, the amount of zinc measured in sensitive ecosystems shows that current emissions of zinc into the environment do not present any ecotoxicological risks because they are within the limits required for optimal conditions for life.
