Urban metal metabolism

Abstract

There is an urgent need of comprehensive studies of total flow and accumulation of metals in the anthroposphere to assess present and future risks in urban areas. Here a case study of Stockholm is presented. The administrative boarder of Stockholm City was chosen as spatial system boarder. The work focused the urban metabolism of the metals cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn). This includes calculation of metal flows and stocks in various goods for different time periods. Further, emissions from these goods to the environment have roughly been calculated. It is possible to reconstruct the stock of goods even for a long time period. Here we have shown that the accumulation of metals in goods is most extensive. The emissions from the anthroposphere of Stockholm are so far small in relation to the stock. Thus, most environmental concern should be directed to manage the stock in order to minimise future environmental impact. Further, older areas of use often dominate the stock for goods with a long "life expectancy". Some of the goods, e.g. "dead cable", are today forgotten, and the responsibility for the good is unclear. This approach gives possibilities for pre early recognitions which is more pro active instead of re active.