Lead is a bluish-grey heavy metal that is naturally occurring in soil and rock. When lead is found naturally, it is often in the form of a lead compound mixed with other elements. Lead is relatively soft compared to other metals and can be molded and shaped easily. Lead is toxic to humans and particularly dangerous for children.

What Is Lead Used For?

Lead is mined for use in products such as pigment in paints, dyes, and ceramic glazes; caulk; pesticides; ammunition; pipes; weights; cable covers; and car batteries. Lead is often combined with other metals to form alloys, and, until recently, was commonly added to gasoline to increase octane ratings. Today, 75% of the six million tons of lead that are used annually goes into the production of lead-acid batteries, often referred to as “car batteries.”

How Is Lead Released Into The Environment?

Lead is commonly released through mining, primary and secondary metal smelting, steal and iron production, car battery recycling, and the production of pigments. These industrial processes often release lead into the air, where it is brought back down by precipitation or as particulate matter settling on land or surface water. Lead can also be released by burning coal, oil, or lead-containing waste.

How Does Lead Reach Humans?

Human exposure pathways for lead include ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Once lead reaches the top layer of soil, it can be blown around as dust or be spread throughout a community by people walking in the impacted area. The lead in soils can reach surface water bodies as part of storm-water runoff, or can migrate to ground water supplies used for drinking and crop irrigation. Lead can also build up in plants and animals when the surrounding environment is contaminated.

What Health Risks Can Lead Cause?

The health effects of lead poisoning are both acute and chronic, and are particularly severe in children. These adverse impacts can include neurological damage, reduced IQ, anemia, muscle and joint pain, loss of memory and concentration, nerve disorders, infertility, increased blood pressure, and chronic headaches. Even small amounts of lead in the bodies of children can be associated with long-term neurological and cognitive defects. When women who are pregnant become exposed to lead, it can result in damage to the fetus and eventual birth defects. At high concentrations, lead poisoning can cause seizures and death.

*Population estimates are preliminary and based on an ongoing global assessment of polluted sites.

Environmental Reports

Using data collected by the Blacksmith Institute and Green Cross Switzerland over the past three years from more than 2,000 toxic hotspots, the 2011 Environmental Report identifies the top ten sources of pollution and, for the first time, quantifies their health impacts. The 2011 Environmental Report is based on the estimated number of people affected by the pollutants and the number of sites identified globally where pollutants exist in concentrations above health standards. The report also focuses on sites with a clear, fixed source of toxic pollution that can be targeted for remediation efforts.

In 2006 and 2007, the organizations released reports highlighting the world’s worst polluted places. The 2008 and 2010 reports described the top ten worst pollution problems, and a report released in 2009 provided case studies of successful cleanup projects.

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