Factsheet containing information on lead. Including information on why the substance is included in the Pollution Inventory and it's effects on the environment and human health.
What type of substance is it?
The metal lead is a naturally occurring chemical element, naturally found in combination with other elements as lead compounds in rocks and soils. Pure lead is a soft bluish-white metal. Although lead metal has been extracted and used by man since antiquity, many lead-containing substances can be toxic to humans and wildlife. Lead and some of its compounds may affect the development of the brain in children and the unborn child. The Environment Agency aims to ensure that there is no appreciable risk of such an effect from environmental exposures. Lead is one of the eight substances for which the government has established an air quality standard as part of its national Air Quality Strategy.
How is it released?
Major man-made releases come from iron, steel and non-ferrous metal production. Other large sources include coal fired power stations and the Chemicals Industry. The former major source of emissions from vehicles powered by leaded petrol has been laregly eliminated following the phase out of leaded petrol. Minor natural sources contributing to airborne lead include silicate dusts, volcanic aerosols, forest fires, sea salt aerosols and decay of radon.
Detailed information
Scientific name:
Lead, Pb
Other names:
Plumbum, lead-flake, granular lead, pigment metal
CAS Number:
7439-92-1
Priamry (new) lead is obtained mainly from the mineral galena (PbS). Anglesite (PbSO4), cerussite (PbCO3) are also common lead ores. However the majority of lead (60%) used today is not only produced from these minerals but from the recycling of old lead scrap and in particular from recovery of lead from lead-acid batteries.
the primary use of lead is in lead-acid batteries. Other important uses include lead roofing and flashing, lead solders in electronic equipment and in radiation shielding. Lead was formerly used widely in plumbing, as an anti-knock additive in petrol and in paints. However all these uses have been disconotinued.
Lead is a bluish-white very dense metal which is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity. It is odourless. It is highly resistant to corrosion but can dissolve very slowly in soft water.
Where is it released?
Current major sources include iron, steel and non-ferrous metal production, the fuel and power and chemicals sectors . Improved abatement measures in the iron and steel industry and the declining use of coal have both added to the decline in lead emissions. In 1998, the total emissions were 1033 tonnes. The major source of lead released to the air has until recently come from petrol containing lead additives, but this has virtually ceased. The extensive former uses of lead in paint and in water pipes both contribute to releases of lead metal to land and water and may also result in ingestion by humans in potentially dangerous amounts. Lead is released in relatively large quantities to the water environment from sewage treatement works. This reflects the input of lead to these works from both domestic pipes and various industrial sources. Lead is also a naturally occurring element, rarely found in its elemental state but in a number of ores. Natural sources contributing to airborne lead include silicate dusts, volcanic aerosols, forest fires, sea salt aerosols and radon decay.
Local environmental effects
High levels of lead are toxic to plants and animals. In the environment, lead is mostly found in soils and sediments. Its solubility increases in acid, soft waters.
Global environmental effects
No significant global impacts are considered likely.
Possible health concerns
Lead and some of its compounds may affect the development of the brain in children and the unborn child. The Environment Agency aims to ensure that there is no appreciable risk of such an effect from environmental exposures. Excessive exposure may affect the blood, blood vessels, digestive system, kidney, peripheral nerve, reproductive system and the unborn child, and may cause cancer. The Environment Agency aims to ensure that environmental exposures are too low to cause such effects.
Legislation
Why was this substance selected for the Pollution Inventory?
For releases to air included in : European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) reporting requirements; UK National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) substances; United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary (LRTAP) reporting requirements; Heavy metals of Agency concern & included under Annex 1 of the European Union IPPC Directive ; For releases to water included in : European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) reporting requirements; European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) Priority list substances; Oslo and Paris Commission (OSPAR) Chemicals for Priority Action list.
Standard risk phrases for the pure substance
The standard risk phrases provided here are generally those used by suppliers of chemicals to describe substances - for example on packaging materials. The most important source of these phrases are the CHIP Regulations - Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) - provided by the Health and Safety Executive. Some substances do not have CHIP risk phrases and in these circumstances we have used other risk phrases, the sources of which are indicated.
Because this is a large family of chemicals rather than a single substance, it is not possible to provide risk phrases, which are generally provided for a single substance whose properties can be precisely determined.
Controlling legislation and international agreements
Lead is one of the eight main air pollutants in the UK's Air Quality Strategy. The air quality standard - which should not be exceeded as annual mean - has been set 0.25 microgrammes per cubic metre (ug / m3). The UK legislation controlling lead releases and implementing the EC Directives 76/464 are the Surface Waters (Dangerous Substances) (Classification) Regulations, 1997 (SI 1997/2560). The European legislation relevant to its release is EC Directive 76/464: ?Pollution of the aquatic environment by dangerous substances? (plus daughter directives); it is also on the list of 11 substances under review as potential "priority hazardous substances" under the proposed Water Framework Directive. Its sale and use are covered by EC Directive 76/769 'Restriction on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances'. The release of lead is also covered by the following three international agreements: the OSPAR Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North East Atlantic, the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
These factsheets have been compiled to provide users with information on the Pollution Inventory substances and represent our best efforts to summarise a large number of disparate and sometimes conflicting data sources. We emphasise that this information describes potential hazards rather than actual effects and that the Environment Agency seeks to regulate releases to minimise emissions and hence any risk of detrimental effects occurring.
