4. 3.76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 50/9 
Committee  urges  that  this  question  be resolved  as harmonization  of the  lists  of colouring  matters 
soon  as possible.  It also  calls  for the earliest  possible  authorized  for use in medicinal  preparations. 
Done  at Brussels,  28 January  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on proposals  for: 
— a Council  Directive  on biological  standards  for  lead  and  on screening  of the 
population  for lead 
— a Council  Directive  on air quality  standards  for lead 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 151  of 7 July  1975,  page  22. 
On 7 May  1975  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
136th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 January  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and  Consumer 
Affairs  to draw  up an opinion  and  a report  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the European  Communities  on 7 May 
1975, Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Protection  of the  Environment,  Public  Health 
and Consumer  Affairs  at its meeting  on 13 January 
1976,  and  the  report  submitted  by the  rapporteur, 
Mr Eboli, Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198 thereof, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 136th  plenary 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on session  held  on 28 and  29 January  1976  (meeting  of 
27 May  1975,  instructing  the Section  for Protection  28  January  1976), 
No C 50/10 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 4. 3. 76 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION: 
by a majority  vote,  with  14 votes  against  and  six 
abstentions: 
The Committee  approves  the proposals  subject  to the 
following  comments  and  suggestions. 
1. Comments  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive 
on biological  standards  for lead  and  on screening 
the population  for lead 
1.1. General  comments 
1.1.1.  The  proposal  deserves  every  attention  and 
consideration.  It constitutes  a practical  attempt  to 
protect  public  health  to an increasing  degree  against 
lead.  Lead  is a pathogenic  agent  of extraordinary 
complexity.  When  the  amount  of lead  absorbed 
through  the  alimentary  or respiratory  tracts  or 
through  the  skin  exceeds  a certain  level  (not  yet 
exactly  determined,  but  higher  than  that  resulting 
from  exposure  to the quantities  normally  present  in 
the environment),  the result  is not only  diseases,  but 
also non-specific  changes  whose  origins  and 
development  are  not  always  clearly  apparent.  There 
is no doubt,  for instance,  that  certain  concentrations 
of lead  (exactly  how  much  has  not  been  established 
scientifically  and  opinions  differ)  can  cause  mental 
impairment,  and  that  therefore  the lead  intake  of all 
sections  of the  community  — children  in particular 
— should  be reduced  to the absolute  minimum. pollution.  Until  such  time  as effective  total  exposure 
per unit  of time  can  be measured  accurately,  changes 
in biological  parameters  (which  reflect  the internal 
dose)  can  be regarded  as a useful  practical  guide  to 
overall  external  contamination  (external  exposure) 
over a relatively  recent  period. 
1.1.4.  The  use  of biological  indicators  obviously 
presupposes  full  knowledge  of their  limitations 
(which  they  share  with  everything  biological).  Such 
indicators  are not  an end  in themselves.  They  are a 
practical  ecological  tool  which  can  be  used  to 
monitor  the effectiveness  of action  taken  to eliminate 
hazards.  Obviously,  all this  calls  for proper  use  of 
methods,  correct  analysis  and  correct  choice  of 
samples.  Not  only  this,  the  staff  evaluating  the 
findings  will  need  considerable  powers  of 
discernment.  At the same  time,  the techniques  used 
must  be capable  of identifying  and  changing  the 
environmental  factors  that  cause  alterations  in the 
selected  indicators. 
1.1.5.  The  Commission's  document  is inherently 
complex.  The  matters  raised  in it are based  on any 
amount  of (often  highly  specialized)  research  in 
particular  areas  of biology. 
1.1.6.  Let  us now  turn  to the  detail  of the 
explanatory  memorandum.  First,  it reports  on 
findings  made  in research  into  the  relationship 
between  blood-lead  levels  (which  the  Commission 
takes  as indicating  the  dose  received)  and  various 
bio-chemical,  haemotological,  subjective  and  func-
tional  responses. 
1.1.2.  Years  of substantial  experience  the  world 
over in epidemiological  surveys,  screening,  diagnosis 
and in assessment  for the purposes  of compensating 
victims  of occupational  lead  poisoning  have  shown 
that the  use  of biological  indicators  to assess 
pollution  (as  proposed  by  the  Commission)  is 
scientifically  valid.  Indeed,  given  the  way  in which 
lead attacks  the  human  body,  the  use  of biological 
indicators  is essential. 1.1.7.  Such  relationships  are  used  to establish 
biological  limits,  respect  for  which  protects  public 
health.  Theoretically,  there  is no limit  below  which 
no effects  occur.  (Any  encounter  between  molecules 
or atoms  may  cause  a chemical  reaction).  But,  of 
course,  setting  limits  does  make  practical  sense. 
1.1.3.  Indeed  so  many  factors  foster  lead 
accumulation  in the  body  that  it is difficult  to 
determine  effective  total  exposure  (quantity  of lead 
absorbed  and  retained  by the body  per unit  of time) 
and hence  the  magnitude  of the  biological  risk,  if 
any, from  measurements  of environmental  lead 1.1.8.  The  proposal  for a Directive  thus  arrives  at 
permissible  blood-lead  limits  for 50, 90 and  100  % of 
the population  group  considered.  It also  uses 
statistical  correlations  to establish  maximum  levels  of 
ALAD  activity.  In fact,  blood-lead  levels  and  ALAD 
activity  are used  as basic  biological  standards. 
4. 3. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 50/11 
1.1.9.  What  of  the  suitability  of the  figures 
selected?  Higher  blood-levels  than  those  proposed  for 
screening  the  general  population  are  generally 
accepted  in the  case  of persons  exposed  to lead 
contamination  at work  (in western  countries  up to 70 
micrograms  per 100  ml blood).  On these  grounds,  the 
figures  given  in the proposal  might  be criticized  for 
being  over-cautious. 
1.1.10.  But  quite  apart  from  the current  tendency 
to reassess  occupational  exposure  standards,  it is fair 
to say  that  all the factors  taken  into  account  when 
setting  maximum  figures  point  in one  direction.  A 
distinction  has  to be made  between  the level  which 
is acceptable  for persons  exposed  to the hazard  in the 
course  of their  work,  and  that  which  is acceptable  for 
the public  at large.  (Ionizing  radiation  is a case  in 
point.)  In any  event,  the tendency  of recent  literature 
and WHO  recommendations  for  occupational' 
exposure  is towards  a further  lowering  of maximum 
figures. 
1.1.11.  Therefore,  everything  considered,  the 
values  given  in the first  proposal  are acceptable  for 
the purpose  intended.  Naturally,  they  are  not  fixed 
for all time,  and  may  be changed  in the  future. 
Article  8 provides  for this.  The  Economic  and  Social 
Committee  considers  that  the  committee  set up by 
Article  8 for keeping  the  Directive  up-to-date  with 
scientific  and  technical  progress  ought.  to be 
convened  every  year,  if only  to confirm  the biological 
standards  and  monitoring  methods  in use. 1.1.14.  The  Committee  paid  particular  attention  to 
the problem  of the  population  samples  used  for 
monitoring  blood-lead  levels  and  ALAD  activity. 
This  is a complex  matter  involving  ethical  as well  as 
practical  and  financial  problems.  Due  attention  will 
have  to be given  to all the factors  involved,  bearing 
in mind  not  only  the cost  of prevention,  but also  the 
cost to the community  should  such  preventive  action 
not be  taken.  Furthermore,  there  is reason  for 
thinking  that  a two-year  interval  between  samples  is 
too long.  The  figure  of 50 analyzed  per  million 
inhabitants  is too  low,  particularly  given  the 
stratification  of  the  sample.  However,  the 
Commission's  guidelines  for biological  sampling  for 
monitoring  population  exposure  to  lead  deal 
specifically  with  the sampling  aspect.  The  Economic 
and Social  Committee  proposes  that  the findings  of 
this document  should  be appended  to the first  draft 
Directive  as a guide  for the committee  to be set up 
under  Article  8. 
1.1.15.  Having  said  this,  the  Committee  would 
make  a number  of suggestions  concerning  the fixing 
of standards: 
(a) a standing  panel  of experts  from  central  health 
agencies  should  be appointed  to look  into  ways 
of increasing  the  safety  of environmentally 
hazardous  methods  of lead  use and  possibly  also 
to promote  research  into  the  use  of substitute 
materials  where  lead  is proved  to give  rise  to a 
hazard; 
1.1.12.  A  reference  method  is given  for  the 
measurement  of enzyme  activity.  No such  reference 
method  is given  for blood-lead  levels.  Despite  this,  it 
is stated  that  either  blood-levels  or ALAD  activity 
may be used  as biological  standards.  A standardized 
measurement  procedure  should  be introduced  as 
soon  as possible  for the level  of lead  in the blood. 
But the right  to opt for the ALAD  methods  should  be 
looked  upon  as a temporary  expedient. (b) lead's  direct  effects  on the public,  and  its genetic 
and teratogenetic  effects  should  be researched 
and monitored; 
(c) action  should  be taken  to promote  work  on the 
many  unresolved  aspects  of exposure  to lead 
from  foodstuffs  in the Community; 
1.1.13.  There  are  two  possibilities  for the future. 
Firstly,  the  Community  could  decide  which  of the 
two methods  provides  adequately  comparable  results, 
and use  that  method  only.  Secondly,  both  methods 
could  be employed  in all cases,  in order  better  to 
monitor  the biological  and  environmental  situation. (d) absolute  priority  should  be given  to a programme 
for coordinating  Member  State  studies  and 
activities  dealing  with  lead  pollution  at the work 
place  in relation  to lead  limits  for the public  at 
large; 
No C 50/12 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 4. 3. 76 
(e) research  should  continue  into  the  relationship 
between  the  amount  of lead  in the  body  and 
physical  reactions  (for  instance,  in order  to cast 
light  on the significance  of (i) changes  in ALAD 
activity  and  (ii)  the  slower  transmission  of 
impulses  in the peripheral  nervous  system); 
(f) steps  should  be  taken  to  improve  the 
comparability  of blood-lead  values  obtained  by 
different  laboratories.  Consideration  should  be 
given  to licensing  laboratories  to carry  out  this 
work; 
(g) a large  number  of lead  level  tests  will  have  to be 
carried  out.  The  Committee  therefore  trusts  that 
an economical  and  consistent  method  will  be 
found  for  determining  the  level  of lead  in the 
blood; 
(h) consideration  should  be given  to working  out 
other  bio-analytical  tests,  to be used  at least  in 
screening. 
1.2. Specific  comments 
1.2.1.  Second  recital 
1.2.1.1.  In  the  Committee's  view,  it is not 
completely  accurate  to state  that  'the  increasing  use 
of lead  is currently  causing  additional  contamination 
of many  areas  of the environment  by this  pollutant'. 
In the United  Kingdom  and  Germany,  which  together 
account  for  more  than  half  of  total  EEC 
consumption,  the  use  of lead  is declining.  The 
Committee  suggests,  therefore,  that  all statements  to 
the above  effect  in the  two  Directives  should  be 
deleted. 
1.2.2.  Article  2 
1.2.2.1.  The  Committee  suggests  that  Article  2 (1) 
be amended  to read: 
'1. Biological  standards,  for  the purposes  of this 
Directive,  shall  mean  the blood-lead  levels  or 
ALAD  activity  in the  blood  reflecting  the 
levels  of exposure  to lead  below  which,  as far 
as is known  at present,  there  is no discernible 
risk of intolerable  biological  effects.' 1.2.2.2.  As  regards  Article  2 (2) (a), the Committee 
thinks  that  it may  well  prove  impossible  to achieve 
100 % of  individuals  in the  population  groups 
considered,  with  blood  levels  below  35/jug  Pb/100  ml 
(even  excluding  people  at work).  The  Committee 
suggests  that  '98 % of individuals'  be substituted  for 
'all individuals'. 
1.2.2.3.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the 
following  sentences  be  added  to Article  2 (2), 
paragraphs  (a), (b) and  (c): 
'If both  tests  are carried  out and  the results  fail to 
agree,  exhaustive  repeat  tests  shall  be performed.' 
1.2.3.  Article  4 
1.2.3.1.  The  third  indent  should  be replaced  by: 
'— in each  Member  State,  the total  number  of 
analyses  should  not  be  less  than  100 
analyses/million  inhabitants.  In all cases,  the 
number  of analyses  should  be high  enough  to 
give an adequately  stratified  sample.' 
1.2.3.2.  The  fourth  indent  should  be amended  to 
read: 
'— analyses  should  be carried  out  in the  same 
region  whenever  necessary  and,  in any  event, 
at least  once  every  two  years.' 
1.2.4.  Article  5 
1.2.4.1.  Add  the following  to Article  5 (1): 
'It shall  further  provide  an overall  picture  of the 
hazards  to the public  and  the toxic  action  of lead. 
Community  experts  shall  ensure  that  the  results 
are comparable.' 
1.2.5.  Article  6 
1.2.5.1.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the  word 
'immediately'  be added  after  'repeated'  in the fourth 
line of Article  6 (2). 
4.3. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 50/13 
1.2.6.  Article  9 
1.2.6.1.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the 
following  be added  to paragraph  (a): 
'At all events,  the Committee  shall  be convened  at 
least  once  every  12 months.' 
1.2.6.2.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the  word 
'any'  be added  to paragraph  (b) before  'proposes' 
(first  line). 
1.2.7.  Article  10 
1.2.7.1.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the 
following  be added  to Article  10 (1): 
'It must  be possible  to adjust  these  provisions 
immediately  to changes  made  under  Article  7.' 
1.2.8.  Annex  1 
1.2.8.1.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the  third 
and fourth  lines  of the fourth  paragraph  be amended 
to read: 
'Lead  is known  to inhibit  ALAD  activity. 
According  to present-day  knowledge,  it is more 
frequently  the cause  of such  inhibition  than  other 
factors.  Diminished  ALAD  activity  can  thus  be 
taken  in practice  as pointing  to an abnormally 
high absolution  of lead.' 
1.2.8.2.  Referring  back  to what  was  stated  in its 
general  comments,  the Committee  proposes  that  the 
following  be added  to Annex  1: 
'The following  guidelines  apply  to the biological 
sampling  of the  general  population  and  of 
persons  in high  exposure  areas;  the measurement 
of blood-lead  levels  or ALAD  (delta-amino-
levulinic  acid  dehydratase  activity)  provides 
evidence  that  can  be used  in assessing  recent 
exposure  to lead  from  all environmental  sources: 
— the responsibility  for  biological  monitoring 
should  be  under  the  auspices  of  the 
appropriate  official  bodies  responsible  for 
health; — biological  sampling  on individuals  can only  be 
performed  on  a voluntary  basis  —  the 
individuals  must  be adequately  informed  as to 
the purpose  of the survey; 
— individual  results  must  remain  confidential; 
— sampling  should  be carried  out by experienced 
personnel  using  accepted  techniques; 
— analyses  should  be performed  in accredited 
laboratories  using  adequate  quality  control; 
— for the purpose  of comparison,  results  must  be 
presented  in a standard  form; 
— general  population  surveys  may  have  to be 
carried  out  on  representative  samples  of 
defined  population  strata; 
— in known  high  exposure  areas,  susceptible 
population  groups  should  be examined  first; 
— in-depth  studies  must  be carried  out in areas 
where  higher  exposures  have  been  identified; 
— action  must  be  considered  where  high 
blood-lead  levels  or depressed  ALAD  activity 
are found  and  confirmed,  and  where  the 
former  cannot  be  attributed  to another 
environmental  source  and the latter  to another 
cause; 
— biological  sampling  for  lead  may  be 
conveniently  carried  out  in connection  with 
biological  sampling  for other  environmental 
pollutants  or health  related  programmes.' 
2. Comments  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive 
on air quality  standards  for lead 
2.1. General  comments 
2.1.1.  The  proposal  for a Directive  is supported  by 
Commission-sponsored  investigations  in the EEC  in 
(a) areas  where  motor  vehicle  traffic  is particularly 
heavy  and  (b) other  residential  and  industrial  areas 
No C 50/14 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 4. 3.76 
taken  together.  The  Committee  thinks  that  a third, 
intermediate  category  with  its own  standard  should 
be set up.  This  would  make  it possible  to monitor 
lead pollution  by certain  types  of industry. 
2.1.2.  But  the standards  in the Directive  have  been 
fixed  without  going  properly  into  the  question  of 
what  standards  can  be  met  using  present-day 
techniques,  in the  case  of areas  with  a large 
lead-smelting  or lead-using  industry. 
2.1.3.  In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  factories 
without  proper  emission  control  and  environmental 
protection  and  in areas  bordering  on motorways,  etc., 
increased  lead  concentrations  can be found  in and  on 
the soil  and  in various  types  of vegetation  (including 
fodder  crops).  Lead  levels  around  factories  warrant 
special  surveillance  so as to ensure  that  they  do not 
cause  health  problems. 
2.1.4.  To  come  to the permissible  annual  average 
for urban  areas,  the Committee  would  point  out that 
EEC  investigations  bore  out  the  limits  proposed.  It 
would  therefore  be absurd  to permit  atmospheric 
standards  to be degraded  by raising  the limits. 
2.1.5.  The  Economic  and  Social  Committee's 
comment  (paragraph  1.1.11)  on  meetings  of the 
committee  set up under  Article  8 also  applies  to this 
proposal  for a Directive. 
2.2. Specific  comments 
2.2.1.  Second  recital 
2.2.1.1.  The  Committee  would  refer  to paragraph 
1.2.1.1. 2.2.2.  Article  2 
2.2.2.1.  It  is recommended  that  a reference  to the 
third  category  referred  to in paragraph  2.1.1  above  be 
added  to Article  2 (2). 
2.2.2.2.  The  Committee  proposes  that  Article  2 (3) 
should  be amended  to read: 
'Member  States  shall  take  the necessary  measures 
to ensure  that  these  standards  are  respected  by 
1980;  such  measures  should  be based  on the latest 
technology  to ensure  that  they  do not  lead  to an 
increase  in atmospheric  lead  in low-concentration 
areas  or an increase  in the concentration  of other 
atmospheric  pollutants.' 
2.2.3.  Article  9 
2.2.3.1.  The  Committee  proposes  the  following 
should  be added  to paragraph  (a): 
'At all events,  the Committee  shall  be convened 
at least  once  every  12 months.' 
2.2.3.2.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the  word 
'any'  be added  to paragraph  (b) before  'proposed' 
(first  line on page  44). 
2.2.4.  Annex 
2.2.4.1.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the  third 
paragraph  be amended  to read: 
'The  Member  States  shall  appoint  two  reference 
laboratories,  selected  from  laboratories  in the 
Community,  for each  of the two  methods.' 
Done  at Brussels,  28 January  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
4.3. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 50/15 
ANNEX 
to the opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
I. The  following  amendments  were  rejected  during  the discussions: 
Paragraph  1.2.2.2 
Delete  this  paragraph. 
Paragraph  1.2.5  — Article  6 
Add the following  text  to paragraph  1.2.5.1: 
'The  Section  also  proposes  that  the second  sentence  of Article  6 (2) be amended  to read: 
"If this  is the case,  Member  States  shall  take  immediate  action  to determine  the  causes  of 
the exposure  responsible,  shall  evaluate  the importance  of this  from  the  point  of view  of 
public  health  and  on the basis  of this  evaluation,  shall  take  the measures  best  suited  in 
particular  to reduce  the exposure  level  and shall  notify  the Commission".' 
It also  suggests  that  the adjective  'emergency'  be deleted  from  Article  6 (2). 
Reasons 
The introduction  of a reference  to 98 % of the population  instead  of the figure  of 100  % in the 
proposal  for a Directive  changes  the very  object  of the Directive,  since  exceeding  the maximum 
level  of 35 ^wg/lOO  ml blood  would  only  give  rise  to preventive  action  should  more  than  2 % 
of the population  be concerned. 
The amendment  seeks  to modify  the machinery  that  is to be brought  into  play  when  the 
maximum  admissible  dose  is exceeded,  while  preserving  the spirit  of the relevant  provisions. 
This  new  version  of Article  6 (2) will,  in our view,  prevent  the machinery  being  too rigid.  The 
action  taken  will  be tailored  to the importance  of the problem.  Moreover,  an examination  will 
be carried  out by the health  authorities  of the Member  States. 
Voting 
for 33, 
against:  34, 
abstentions:  5. 
Paragraph  2.2.2  — Article  2 
Amend  the second  sentence  of the text  in quotes  of paragraph  2.2.2.1  as follows: 
'such  measures  may  in no event  lead  to significant  increases  in atmospheric  lead  in low-
concentration  areas  or to significant  increases  in the concentration  of other  atmospheric 
pollutants.' 
Reason 
It would  be impossible  to meet  the specification  as expressed  in Article  2 (3) of the  Com-
mission's  proposal.  Numerous  situations  — e.g.  the development  or expansion  of new  lead 
mining,  and  lead-related  industries,  the re-siting  of industries,  the construction  of new  motor-
No C 50/16 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 4. 3. 76 
ways  — will,  despite  increasingly  stringent  environmental  controls  and  technological  innovation 
as time  goes  on, inevitably  mean  some  increase  in local  atmospheric  lead  levels  even  if this 
increase  is insignificant  from  an environmental  or health  point  of view. 
The proposed  amendment  is intended  to reflect  this realistic  situation  while,  at the same  time, 
recognizing  that  it is essential  to impose  stringent  controls  on the industry. 
Voting 
for: 15, 
against:  48, 
abstentions:  8. 
Paragraph  2.2.2  — Article  2 
Change  text  quoted  in paragraph  2.2.2.1  to read: 
'Member  States  shall  take  the  necessary  measures  to ensure  that  these  standards  are 
respected  by 1980;  such  measures  should,  as far as possible,  not  lead  to an increase  in 
atmospheric  lead  in low-concentration  areas,  or to an increase  in the concentration  of 
another  atmospheric  pollutants.  They  should  therefore  be based  on the latest  technology.' 
Reason 
To replace  the wording  'may  in no event',  which  is too harsh  and  is basically  impossible  to 
put into  practice.  Instead,  more  emphasis  should  be given  to the  application  of the  latest 
technology.  The  present  wording  of the opinion  is no more  acceptable  than  the Commission's 
original  text. 
Voting 
for: —, 
against:  unanimous, 
abstentions:  —. 
II. As a result  of the adoption  of amendments,  the following  paragraphs  in the Section  opinion 
were  altered 
Paragraph  1.1.1  — last sentence 
'There  is no doubt,  for instance,  that  certain  concentrations  of lead  (exactly  how  much 
has not been  established  scientifically  and  opinions  differ)  can cause  mental  impairment, 
and that  therefore  children's  lead  intake  should  be reduced  to the absolute  minimum.' 
Voting 
Adopted  unanimously. 
Paragraph  2.2.2.1 
The Section  proposes  that  Article  2 (3) should  be amended  to read: 
'Member  States  shall  take  the  necessary  measures  to ensure  that  these  standards  are 
respected  by 1980;  such  measures  should  be based  on the latest  technology  and  may  in no 
event  lead  to an increase  in atmospheric  lead  in low-concentration  areas  or an increase  in 
the concentration  of other  atmospheric  pollutants.' 
Voting 
for: 39, 
against:  14, 
abstentions:  10.