Children are particularly at risk. They can ingest lead from soils and street dust. There are substantial amounts of lead stored in urban soils, too. The ongoing accumulation of heavy metals is also a considerable stress factor for the forest ecosystem and for tree vitality. These effects are reinforced by the acidification of soils.
Rocks also emit mercury.
The major sources of lead emissions are metal production and leaded petrol. The Protocol will set a framework for national legislation and lead to a substantial decrease in mercury, cadmium and lead emissions in Europe and North America. Mandatory emission limit values will be set for new and existing industrial and energy production sources. It will become mandatory for new and existing installations to use best available techniques, such as filters, switching to clean fuels and mercury-free processes. Leaded petrol will be phased out.