Lead contamination as a factor of environmental terrorism: North American and European perspective

Abstract

Despite of strong anti-lead campaign started in 1970s, the world population is still terrorized by the dangerous level of environmental lead. The blood lead level (BLL) among the US population is flattened out at 1 μg/dL suggesting the sustained daily human lead intake of about 25 μg. In a majority of European countries in 2003-2006, BLL among children exceeded the US levels. Such BLL are unsafe since a significant relationship between mortality and BLL was found well below 5-10 μg/dL. A safe BLL level for children has not been demonstrated. Lead from gasoline, paint and water pipes are recognized as major sources of environmental contamination. Even the localized use of leaded gasoline produces global effect as lead aerosol is capable to reach the most remote areas. European data show that, despite unequal atmospheric lead emission by the European countries, atmospheric fallout is normally distributed among them with some countries emitting more lead than taking in. Three million tones of lead remain in the US houses painted prior to 1980s. Lead-based paint is allowed for industrial, military and some outdoor uses. In the US, lead-based paint covers about 465 km2 of non-residential surfaces and almost 90% of the bridges. Adverse health effects of lead contamination are discussed. © 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.