Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Toxic heavy metals: materials cycle optimization.

R U Ayres1

  • 1Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Closing the materials cycle is essential for ecological sustainability. This requires banning dissipative uses of toxic heavy metals and improving recycling efficiency through economic incentives.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Peer reviewed: toward a nonpolluting energy system.

Environmental science & technology·2011
Same author

Peer reviewed: toward a zero-emissions economy.

Environmental science & technology·2011
Same author

Economic impact of mass production of alternative low emission automotive power systems.

Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association·1974
Same author

Water proposals for new york.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1966

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Materials Science
  • Industrial Ecology

Background:

  • Long-term ecological sustainability conflicts with open material cycles.
  • Toxic heavy metals (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, zinc) are mobilized by industrial activity at rates exceeding natural processes.
  • Dissipative product uses lead to significant environmental losses of these metals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify strategies for closing the materials cycle.
  • To address the environmental impact of toxic heavy metals.
  • To propose methods for achieving ecological sustainability.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of industrial material flows and environmental dispersion.
  • Identification of dissipative uses of toxic heavy metals in products.
  • Evaluation of policy instruments (bans, taxes, deposits) for material cycle management.
  • Systems analysis for cost-effectiveness assessment.

Main Results:

  • Open material cycles are unsustainable due to heavy metal pollution.
  • Dissipative applications (fuels, pigments, biocides) are key loss pathways.
  • Banning or taxing virgin materials and enhancing recycling are crucial steps.
  • Economic instruments can incentivize cycle closure and recycling.

Conclusions:

  • Achieving ecological sustainability necessitates closing the materials cycle.
  • Policy interventions targeting dissipative uses and improving recycling are vital.
  • A systems-level approach is required to effectively manage material flows and mitigate environmental risks.

Related Experiment Videos