Lead Human Health Risk Ecological Risk Socioeconomic Risk H M H Lead is a naturally occurring metal used in a range of industrial and commercial applications. Two uses of lead, which have since been banned, have contributed to widespread environmental contamination: leaded gasoline and leaded paint. Small amounts of lead continue to be emitted in diesel exhaust, and the majority of ongoing industrial emissions are attributed to steel and iron works. Coal burning power plants also emit lead. In New Jersey, human health effects arise through exposure to historic concentrations of lead in the paint of older homes, and in the soils adjacent to roadways and lead-painted structures. These can range from neurological effects, such as a learning deficit, to anemia and lifethreatening encephalopathy at higher exposures. There may also be a link between long term exposure and hypertension in adults. Lead accumulates in soils, surface waters, and sediments presenting a toxic hazard to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. What’s at risk? serious problem because of the irreversible reproductive and developmental effects. Limited sampling in New Jersey suggests that sediments in urban areas may contain lead at more than three times the ecological health benchmark. Lead levels in surface waters and sediments adjacent to contaminated sites have been sampled at extremely high levels—more than 200 times the benchmark. It is difficult to characterize the risks absent sufficient monitoring. What are the human health impacts in New Jersey? What are the socioeconomic impacts in New Jersey? There are no requirements for testing the general population for lead exposure, but New Jersey requires testing of children under 7. The Centers for Disease Control considers child blood lead levels more than 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood to be elevated, and children with levels more than 20 ug/dl are considered lead poisoned. In 1999, there were a total of 802 cases of lead poisoning in children under 7 in New Jersey. Preliminary data for 2000 indicates 4% of children tested had elevated blood lead levels. Since 1993, New Jersey has documented more than 15,000 cases of lead poisoning in children. Based on national estimates, lead-related medical costs in New Jersey may reach $774 million annually. There are additional costs associated with lead abatement (removal of lead paint hazard in older homes) increasing the total economic cost. Urban parents and residents in older housing may suffer a moderate amount of worry regarding the risks from lead paint. Environmental justice activists have criticized the pace of lead removal from housing in minority areas. What are the ecological impacts in New Jersey? Birds and mammals are at risk, due to bioaccumulation of lead up the food chain. While lead can cause death, chronic exposure is the more What’s being done? Phasing out leaded gasoline has drastically reduced lead emissions to the air. Regulations restrict the amount of lead in air, drinking water, and consumer products. Laws also govern the cleanup of contaminated sites. Public health education, along with statewide pediatric screening, has also contributed to reductions in blood lead levels. 143 Final Report of the New Jersey State Comparative Risk Project STRESSOR SUMMARIES Lead’s environmental pervasiveness means that exposure of people and wildlife occurs statewide. Children are far more likely than adults to ingest contaminated soil or peeling paint; their bodies absorb it more efficiently, and their developing nervous systems are more sensitive to its effects. Although contamination is often greatest in urban/ suburban regions, elevated lead levels are found in soils, sediments, and surface waters statewide.