Lead poisoning, we know, can cause learning problems, brain damage and hyperactivity in children. That's why EPA is going to put into place a much more stringent reporting requirement for companies that use lead and release it into the air, water or land. Previously, the threshold was as high as 25,000 pounds. Information is power. You can make better decisions when you have the appropriate information available to you.
Information gives America's families the ability to make some decisions.
We found out that the more information we have and make available about toxic releases, the more emissions have been reduced, and that is really where we want to get, is reducing those emissions. We have every expectation that this new reporting requirement will result in real decreases in the amount of lead released into the air, water or land. We're going to work with the companies that are captured under this rule, the smaller companies that, for the first time, will be required to report. We'll also continue to work with industry to help them voluntarily reduce the lead they use in any process that they undertake. This action builds on previous efforts to reduce lead exposure, including eliminating lead from gasoline and other sources, plumbing parts, soda cans.