chemical information
CAS RN:
07439-92-1
Chemical Class:
Found in these people:
Heather Gellert, Landon Gellert, Lexi Rome, Jessica Welborn, Judi Shils, Winsome McIntosh, Fred Gellert, Emily Sayrs, Annette Gellert, Sharyle Patton, Adelaide Gomer, Jesse Johnson, Davis Baltz, Lucy Waletsky, Charlotte Brody, Participant #10, Lynde Uihlein, Monique Harden, Bill Moyers, Ann Hunter-Welborn, Michael Lerner, Alicia Wittink, Participant #6, Andrea Martin, Martha Davis, Participant #18, Participant #2, Participant #20, Participant #1, Anonymous Adult, Irene Crowe, Vivian Chang, Dr. Beverly Wright, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Jean Salone, Suzie Canales
Found in these locations:
Belvedere, CA; Mill Valley, CA; San Francisco, CA; Ross, CA; Washington, DC; Littleton, CO; Bolinas, CA; Ithaca, NY; New York, NY; Berkeley, CA; Pleasantville, NY; Round Hill, VA; CA, USA; Milwaukee, WI; New Orleans, LA; NJ, USA; Encinitas, CA; MD, USA; Sausalito, CA; VA, USA; CO, USA; Oakland, CA; Green Bay, WI; Corpus Christi, TX
Exposure routes:
Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products.
Summary
Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal that can cause permanent neurological and behavioral problems and affects virtually every system in the body. The state of California lists lead as a developmental and reproductive toxin because of its potential for causing infertility and spontaneous abortion in adults and developmental defects in children. Studies also suggest a relationship between blood lead levels and pre-term delivery, low birth weight and fetal growth retardation (ATSDR 1999).
Lead can affect children at extremely low levels, and there is no evidence of a threshold dose below which developmental effects do not occur. Levels as low as 10 micrograms per deciliter (mg/dL), currently considered the threshold for elevated blood lead level, have been associated with decreased intelligence and impaired neurobehavioral development (ATSDR 1999). Lead is 'reasonably anticipated' to be a human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), based on kidney and nervous system tumors in laboratory animals (NTP 2002).
Since lead has been removed from gasoline and food containers, the most common source of exposure is lead-based house paint. About 10 billion pounds of lead paint were used in the United States between its introduction in 1889 and the imposition of federal restrictions in 1970 -- 61 years after France, 48 years after Australia and 44 years after Great Britain.
House dust is often contaminated by lead-based paint that is peeling, deteriorating, or is disturbed during renovation or the preparation of painted surfaces for repainting without proper safeguards. Soil contamination can be traced to deteriorating exterior paint or past usage of leaded gasoline.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that three-quarters of pre-1980 housing units contain some lead-based paint and that the likelihood, extent, and concentration of lead-based paint increase with the age of the building. In 1995, a federal task force on lead-based paint in the United States estimated that 6 percent to 16 percent of the nation's housing units contain lead-based paint hazards.
The most recognized health concern for lead exposure is neurotoxicity, especially when exposure occurs during pregnancy or childhood. Neurological effects include decreased IQ scores and reaction time, forgetfulness, impaired nerve conduction, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and weakness. Lead is 'reasonably anticipated' to be a human carcinogen based on kidney and nervous system tumors in laboratory animals (NTP 2002).
Occupational exposure to lead is associated with increased incidences of total malignant tumors, and cancers of the kidney, nervous system, and digestive and respiratory tracts. Other non-cancer effects associated with lead exposure include: gastrointestinal distress, anemia, increased blood pressure, altered heart rhythm, decreased fertility, decreased sperm counts and decreased immune function.
Exposure during developmental is associated with miscarriage, fetal death, decreased birth weight, reduced growth, lower IQ scores, irritability, behavioral problems, fatigue, poor balance and nerve conduction toxicity (ATSDR 1999).
Lead
Neurotoxic heavy metal linked to IQ deficits and behavioral problems. Found in dust from chipping lead paint in older homes, and in some tap water.
Lead has been found in 73 of the 73 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies. It has also been found in 13,283 of the 13,895 people tested in CDC biomonitoring studies.
Top health concerns for Lead (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Brain and nervous system | strong |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | unknown |
Other health concerns for Lead (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Cancer | limited |
| Reproduction and fertility | unknown |
| Kidney and renal system | strong |
| Hematologic (blood) system | strong |
| Cardiovascular system | strong |
| Endocrine system | known |
| Sense organs | strong |
| Musculoskeletal system | strong |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | moderate |
| Persistent, accumulates in wildlife and/or people | probable |
| Gastrointestinal (including liver) | limited |
| Skin | limited |
Violations, restrictions, and warnings for Lead (References)
Unsafe for use in cosmetics, Canada
Other relevant risk considerations for Lead (References)
Wildlife and environmental toxicity
Results for Lead
in whole blood (wet weight)
Showing results from Pets Project, Minority Cord Blood, Dateline NBC Families, Adult Minority Leader Report, EWG Study #6, consumer product chemicals in mothers and daughters, EWG/Commonweal Study #7, consumer product chemicals in adults and teens, Dateline NBC Families, Other Body Burden Studies, EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults
EWG/Commonweal results
- geometric mean: 1.37 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood
- found in 73 of 73 people in the group
CDC biomonitoring results
- geometric mean: 1.33 ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood
- found in 7896 of 8373 people in the group
| 0.2 | ug/dL (wet weight) in whole blood | 68.9 |
 | ||
Lead results
Detailed toxicity classifications (References)
| classification | governing entity/references |
| A3- Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans, ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygeinists) | Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens |
| Prohibited from use in Canadian cosmetics | Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist |
| Strong evidence in humans: reproductive system toxicity; Condition: abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count); Organs/tissues affected: testes | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Acute tubular necrosis - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Alzheimer's - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Anemia (including hemolytic) - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Arrhythmias - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Behavioral problems* - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Bladder cancer - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Carcinoid - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cardiomyopathy - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cataracts - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Chronic renal disease - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span)/Mental Retardation/Developmental Delay - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cranio- Facial malformations* - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium* - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Delayed growth - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Erectile dysfunction - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion, stillbirth) - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Glomerulonephritis - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Gout - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Hearing loss - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Hypertension (High blood pressure) - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Immune suppression * - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age/Intra-Uterine Growth Retardation - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Menstrual disorders (abnormal bleeding, short cycles, long cycles, irregular cycles, painful periods) - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Nephrotic syndrome - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome) - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Osteoporosis - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Peripheral neuropathy - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Porphyria (toxic) - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Pre-term delivery - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Psychiatric disturbances (disorientation, hallucinations, psychosis, delirium, paranoias, anxiety/depression, emotional laibility, mood changes, euphoria). - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Reduced Fertility - Female (infertility and subfertility) - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Reduced Fertility - Male (infertility and subfertility) - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Seizures - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Thyroid disorders - Hypothyroidism - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Wilm's Tumor - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act | EPA Water Quality Standards Database |
| EPA: probable endocrine disruptor | Illinois EPA Chemicals Associated with Endocrine System |
| Group B2: Probable human carcinogen - sufficient data in animals (EPA classification) | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) |
| Priority substance in EU water policy | European Union - Water Framework Directive |
| Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| ; The chemical is toxic to the kidneys in the occupational setting; this is a primary toxic effect of the chemical | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| IARC Group 2B: possible human carcinogen (International Agency for Research on Carcinogens) | Inter'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Carcinogens |
| Known to be neurotoxic to humans, suspected developmental neurotoxin | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Known to be neurotoxic to humans, suspected developmental neurotoxin | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, priority chemical for voluntary waste/emission reductions | EPA Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) (1998) |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - targeted for waste reporting under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs | EPA Toxic Release Inventory (1999) |
| Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected | BENO, EPA-HEN, HAZMAP, KLAA, KRIS, LADO, MALA, STAC |
| Endocrine toxicity hazards: suspected | BRUC, IL-EPA, KEIT, WWF |
| Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected | EPA-HEN, HAZMAP, KLAA, LAND, MERCK, STAC |
| Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected | EPA-HEN, RTECS, STAC |
| Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected | IPCS |
| Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected | KLAA |
| Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected | NEME |
| Developmental toxicity hazards: recognized | P65 |
| Cancer hazards: recognized | P65 |
| Reproductive toxicity hazards: recognized | P65 |
