WRITTEN QUESTION E-0837/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (12 April 1996)

Subject: Risks from lead

It is well known that exposure to lead can seriously damage the health of people of any age. Children are particularly at risk as their rapidly growing bodies tend to absorb pollutants much more quickly than adults. It is also well known that the presence of lead in blood is measured in terms of the number of microgrammes per litre.

In the USA, a level of 10 microgrammes per litre is considered to be high and a cause for alarm.

1. Can the Commission state what level is considered to be high in the EU Member States?

2. If such levels were to vary, does the Commission consider that it should submit proposals on harmonizing levels?

3. If so, could it indicate a method of combating contamination (by educating the general public, mounting national information campaigns, etc.) and take concerted action to come up with the best way of improving the available technologies (abatement, enclosure, encapsulating, etc.) for reducing the risks from lead?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (27 June 1996)

Council Directive 77/312/EEC laid down a common procedure to be applied for four years for the biological screening of the population for lead. ((OJ L 105, 28.4.1977 )) The reference level for lead in blood laid down in this Directive was 20ìg per 100 ml. Results of measurements ((CEC/LUX/V/E/3/14/86, 2.7.1986 )) subsequently carried out showed a median of 13ìg per 100 ml blood for the Community as a whole. Recent work carried out in the context of the Euro Terviht ((Data currently under statistical treatment, to be published in October 1996, in the journal 'the science of the total environment': Trace element reference values in tissues from inhabitants of the Community )) project showed in 1995 levels of 6.8 ìg per 100ml blood for Denmark and 7.2 ìg per 100 ml blood for Spain. In Italy, a blood lead level of 9.2 ìg per 100 ml was obtained for Lombardia in 1990. In 1995 8.2 ìg per 100 ml for Abruzzo and 7.9 ìg per 100 ml for Marche were indicated. These recent levels are clearly below the US reference level of 10 ìg per 100 ml blood.

Blood lead reference levels do not necessarily imply the occurrence of adverse effects on health. Rather they are trigger levels in order to take action. If the reference levels of Directive 77/312/EEC were exceeded, Member States were required to check the validity of the results, take action to trace the exposure sources responsible for causing these levels to be exceeded, and take appropriate measures at their discretion. The Commission has however, no plans to harmonize reference levels for lead in blood.

In addition, as regards the workplace, Council Directive 82/605/EEC ((OJ L 247, 23.8.1982 )) provides for the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to metallic lead and its ionic compounds at work.

The most effective way of preventing contamination by lead is to address the question of sources of such contamination. To this end, lead and its compounds have been classified under Directive 67/548/EEC ((OJ L 196, 16.8.1967 )) (classification and labelling of dangerous chemical substances) and Directive 88/379/EEC ((OJ L 187, 16.7.1988 )) (classification and labelling of dangerous preparations). Annex II of Council Directive 88/379/EEC, as adapted for the third time by Directive 93/18/EEC ((OJ L 104, 29.4.1993 )), lays down special provisions for the classification, packaging and labelling of paints and varnishes containing lead, especially where these may come into contact with children.

Furthermore, Council Directive 89/677/EEC ((OJ L 398, 30.12.1989 )) prohibited the use of lead carbons and lead sulphates in paint and Parliament and Council Directive 94/60/EC ((OJ L 365, 31.12.1994 )), which has to be implemented at the latest by 20 June 1996, prohibits with certain derogations the use of all lead compounds in substances and preparations placed on the market for sale to the general public.