Excerpts from the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles "Most lead used by industry comes from mined ores ("primary") or from recycled scrap metal or batteries ("secondary")." "In 1979, cars released 94.6 million kilograms (kg; 1 kg equals 2.2 pounds) of lead into the air in the United States. In 1989, when the use of lead was limited but not banned, cars released only 2.2 million kg to the air." ". . . lead was banned for use in gasoline for transportation beginning January 1, 1996." "The potential for exposure to lead in canned food from lead-soldered containers is greatly reduced because the content of lead in canned foods has decreased 87% from 1980 to 1988. Lead may also be released from soldered joints in kettles used to boil water for beverages." "The amount of lead added to paints and ceramic products, caulking, gasoline, and solder has also been reduced in recent years because of lead's harmful effects on humans and animals. Lead used in ammunition, which is the largest non-battery end-use, has remained fairly constant in recent years. Lead is also used in a large variety of medical equipment (radiation shields for protection against X-rays, electronic ceramic parts of ultrasound machines, intravenous pumps, fetal monitors, and surgical equipment). Lead is also used in scientific equipment (circuit boards for computers and other electronic circuitry), and military equipment (jet turbine engine blades, military tracking systems)." "The domestic use pattern for lead in 1990 was as follows: lead-acid storage batteries, used for motor vehicles, motive power, and emergency back-up power, accounted for 80% of total lead consumption; ammunition, bearing metals, brass and bronze, cable covering, extruded products, sheet lead, and solder represented 12.4%; the remaining 7.6% was used for ceramics, type metal, ballast or weights, tubes or containers, oxides, and gasoline additives (USDOC 1992)."

 

Folk Remedies that Contain Lead

"Ingesting certain home remedy medicines may expose people to lead or lead compounds. Examples include azarcon and greta, Mexican folk remedies used to treat the colic-like illness empacho. Azarcon and greta are also known as liga, Maria Luisa, alarcon, coral, and rueda. Lead-containing remedies used by some Asian communities are chuifong tokuwan, ghasard, bali goli, and kandu. Middle Eastern remedies and cosmetics include alkohl, saoott, and cebagin." [ATSDR Case Studies: Lead Toxicity]

Lead in Plastic Cable and Wire

"Some employees in the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride-based plastics work with lead-containing stabilizers, including dibasic lead phthalate, lead chlorosilicate, and basic lead carbonates, all of which can produce dust when agitated. Lead stabilizers account for approximately 60 % of all stabilizer consumption and are used especially in plastic compounds requiring heat stability and tensile strength, as in electrical insulation. Cable and wire manufacturing and splicing of cables, are other examples in which there is risk for occupational lead exposure, although the replacement of powdered stabilizers with pellet-formed stabilizers has been beneficial in reducing this risk for cable manufacturing workers." (p, 975, Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Lead, Alf Fischbein in Rom)

Lead in Paint for Construction

"The use of red lead as a protective agent for ships, bridges, railways, and various other iron and steel structures is essential even today and of great economic significance." (p. 975, Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Lead, Alf Fischbein in Rom)

Lead in Residential Paint and Plumbing

About 90% of pre-1940 homes and 60% of pre-1978 homes contain lead-based paints. In 1977 the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned "lead containing paint" prohibiting the use of such paint on products to which consumers are exposed after sale (42 FR 44199). In 1986 the Environmental Protection Agency banned the further use of lead pipes and solder in residential plumbing. (Coluccio VM. Lead-Based Paint Hazards. Wiley, John & Sons; 1997, p. 8-15)

Lead in Mineral Wool Insulation

"Mineral wool insulation manufactured before 1970 has been found to have lead particles. According to industry sources, lead slag is no longer used in the manufacture of mineral wool, although lead can be present as a trace impurity." ("Controlling Lead Exposures in the Construction Industry" Go to this OSHA site and do an "edit/find" for "mineral wool" from your browser's menu.)

 

Lead in the Construction Industry: High Risk Projects Targeted by OSHA in 1993

Highway and railroad bridge rehabilitation Commercial and institutional remodeling Residential remodeling Highway and railroad bridge repainting Reinsulation over existing mineral wool Commercial and industrial demolition Petroleum tank repainting Water tank repainting Transmission and commercial tower maintenance Outdoor industrial facility maintenance/renovation Housing lead abatement (public housing) Indoor industrial facility maintenance/renovation Stained glass window removal Underground storage tank demolition Industrial vacuuming Housing lead abatement (private housing) * Lead joint work on cast iron soil pipes * Installation of radiation shielding * Elevator cable babbitting * Electrical cable splicing * Repair/removal of water lines * Installation of terne roofing *

*Lead exposure levels on these projects are not expected to exceed the action level of 30 ug/m3. For more details, see "Controlling Lead Exposures in the Construction Industry" at the OSHA Technical Manual website.

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