Babies whose mothers are exposed to lead during pregnancy have lower birth weights and slower development than other babies. Although laboratory animals that ate lead had more kidney cancers than other animals, human studies have not confirmed that exposure to lead can cause cancer in people. It is unlikely that lead from power plants poses a significant risk to human health. EPA has evaluated the potential health risks of breathing lead for people who live near power plants that burn coal and oil. EPA estimates that the highest lead exposures for people living near power plants are 250 times below the safe exposure level for breathing lead.
Exposure is a potential problem.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children age 6 or younger have yearly tests to measure lead in their blood. EPA has established limits for lead in air and drinking water. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, federal and state regulators determine how much lead each power plant may release in wastewater discharges. The Consumer Product Safety Commission ensures that school water coolers and drinking water are lead-free. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the amount of lead in pottery and ceramics.