RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF LEAD FROM ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES TO THE TOTAL HUMAN LEAD EXPOSURE IN THE U.S.
Notice - This site contains archived material(s)
Archive disclaimer
Archive
disclaimer
Archived files are provided for reference
purposes only. These files are no longer maintained by the Agency and may be outdated. For
current EPA information, go to www.epa.gov. It is EPA's policy to
support reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities, pursuant to the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 791. If you need assistance with accessing archived files, contact
EPA's Reasonable Accommodations
or submit a request using the Contact Us form.
Abstract
The paper evaluates human exposure to lead at a baseline level for persons living in non-urban communities away from stationary or mobile sources of lead, eating typical diets, and engaging in no lead-related occupational or avocational activities. Relative contributions of atmospheric and metallic lead are evaluated for each exposure pathway. For this baseline situation, perhaps 40 to 55% of the total human exposure to lead is of atmospheric origin. Beyond the baseline level, additional exposure factors can be determined for other environments (e.g. urban, occupational, smelter communities) and for certain habits and activities (e.g., pica, smoking, drinking, and various hobbies), with variations for age, sex, or socioeconomic status. Although quantification of these factors is uncertain, they provide guidelines in determining relative exposures under differing environmental conditions. The added exposure factors can also be partitioned into atmospheric, metallic, and pigment lead.
Citation
Elias, R. RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF LEAD FROM ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES TO THE TOTAL HUMAN LEAD EXPOSURE IN THE U.S. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-86/184 (NTIS PB86241015).