Zinc
Although zinc poses no documented health risks, if its physical state is altered during use then health risks can be created. Inhalation of metallic oxide fumes can lead to metal fume fever.
Vanadium
Acute exposure to vanadium by inhalation can cause irritation to the respiratory tract. Chronic exposure may lead to pneumonia.
Tin
Heavy or prolonged exposure to tin oxide may cause a disease of the lungs called stannosis.
Sodium
Base cations such as sodium are important in the environment because deposition has an impact upon surface pH, causing an increase in alkalinity, thereby buffering or neutralizing the effects of acidity generated by sulphur and nitrogen. It is for this reason these emissions are of interest, rather than their negative impacts upon human health or ecosystems.
Selenium
Acute exposure to selenium by inhalation results in respiratory effects such as irritation to the mucous membranes, severe bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia.
Potassium
Base cations such as potassium are important in the environment because deposition has an impact upon surface pH, causing an increase in alkalinity, thereby buffering or neutralizing the effects of acidity generated by sulphur and nitrogen. It is for this reason these emissions are of interest, rather than their negative impacts upon human health or ecosystems. It was long assumed that the major source of base cations in the air was dust from soil erosion, but patterns of concentrations in air and precipitation also suggest significant emissions from urban and industrial sources.
Nickel
Inhalation of nickel can cause irritation to the nose and sinuses and can also lead to the loss of the sense of smell. Long-term exposure may lead to asthma or other respiratory diseases. Cancer of the lungs, nose and sinuses as well as the larynx and stomach has been attributed to exposure to nickel.
Mercury
Acute exposure to high levels of elemental mercury vapour can lead to irritation of the lungs as well as causing coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath. High levels can also result in central nervous system (CNS) effects such as tremors and mood changes. Chronic exposure also leads to CNS disorders, with effects such as increased excitability, excessive shyness and irritability.
Manganese
Long-term exposure to high levels of manganese can result in effects on the central nervous system such as visual reaction time, hand-eye coordination and hand steadiness. Exposure to higher levels over a long period of time can result in a syndrome known as manganese. This leads to feelings of weakness and lethargy, tremors and psychological disturbances.
Between 1990 and 2022, emissions have increased by 12.5%. In 2022, 49% of manganese emissions came from industrial combustion of biomass and wood.
Magnesium
Base cations such as magnesium are important in the environment because deposition has an impact upon surface pH, causing an increase in alkalinity, thereby buffering or neutralizing the effects of acidity generated by sulphur and nitrogen. It is for this reason these emissions are of interest, rather than their negative impacts upon human health or ecosystems. It was long assumed that the major source of base cations in the air was dust from soil erosion, but patterns of concentrations in air and precipitation also suggest significant emissions from urban and industrial sources.