ABSTRACT
C o n tam in a tio n o f th e w o rld ’s aqu ife rs by h eav y m etals, su ch as lead , z inc and ch ro m iu m , co n tin u es to be a m a jo r th rea t to d rin k in g w ate r supp lies in in d ustria lized countries. F ro m sm eltin g o pera tions in P o lan d , to m eta l p la tin g fac ilities o n m ilita ry b ase s ac ro ss th e U n ite d S ta tes , h eav y m e ta l w astes in th e fo rm o f ta ilin g s , w aste w ater, slags, etc., h av e p ro d u ced u n accep tab le en v iro n m en ta l co n d itio n s w h ich co st g o v ern m en ts an d in d u stry b illio n s o f d o lla rs ea ch y ea r fo r c lean -u p effo rts .
