CURRENT ISSUES IN HUMAN LEAD-EXPOSURE AND REGULATION OF LEAD

Concern about lead as a significant public health problem has increase d as epidemiological and experimental evidence has mounted regarding a dverse health effects at successively lower levels of lead exposure. T his concern has led to downward revision of criteria for acceptable bl ood lead concentrations to the 10 mug/dL mark now designated by EPA as a target level for regulatory development and enforcement/clean-up pu rposes. Much progress has been made in reducing lead exposures during the past 10 - 15 years, with marked declines evident both in air lead and blood lead concentrations in parallel to the phase-down of lead in gasoline and notable decreases in food lead exposure due to eliminati on of lead soldered cans by U.S. food processors. With the lessening o f exposure from these sources, the importance of other components of m ultimedia exposure pathways has grown and stimulated increasing regula tory attention and abatement efforts to reduce health risks associated with lead exposure from drinking water, from lead-based paint, and fr om household dust and soil contaminated by deteriorating paint, smelte r emissions, or various other sources. Increasing attention is also be ing accorded to reduction of occupational lead exposures (including th ose related to lead abatement activities), with particular concern for protection of men and women during their reproductive years. (C) 1993 Intox Press, Inc.