Lead compounds have been widely used as pigments in paints, although recently their use has been drastically curtailed to reduce the health hazards. Most commonly it is found in lead paint for protecting metal surfaces. The polyvinyl plastic industry uses lead compounds as stabilizers, and the ceramic industry uses lead oxides and silicates in porcelain and enamelled tiles. Lead oxide is used to produce crystal glass and lead arsenate is a pesticide. Environmental concern over the adverse effects of lead has resulted in programmes to reduce or eliminate lead from fuel.
Lead compounds are marine pollutants.
Care must be exercised when handling lead or its compounds as they are cumulative poisons. This means that exposure to lead and its compounds causes a 'lead burden'. Working conditions may add to the total lead burden. The TLV is 0.05 for lead chromate and tetraethyl lead. Some lead compounds penetrate the skin, such as tetraethyl lead, which is used in fuel as an antiknock agent.