Lead is often found in many parts of our living environment- the air that we breathe, the water that we drink, the soil that grows our food and even in our homes. Most exposure is caused by human activities including the use of fossil fuels (past use of leaded gasoline), industrial facilities, and past use of lead-based paint in homes and commercial buildings. Lead was often used in paint, gasoline, pipes and plumbing materials, batteries, ceramics, ammunition and even cosmetics.
Lead can contaminate our environment from its past use and remaining presence. It can also be emitted into the environment from contaminated sites and industrial sources. Natural levels of lead in soil can range between 50 and 400 parts per million, smelting, refining, and mining activities have caused increased lead levels in our environment.
Lead vapor can be released into the air from certain industrial sources and because it is in vapor form it has the ability to travel long distances before it turns back to solid form and falls to the ground. Lead has the ability to move from soil into groundwater depending on the type of lead compound and the classification of soil.
State and Federal regulations have reduced the amount of lead in soil, air, consumer products, food, and drinking water. New RRP contractor regulations have been put into effect which requires all contractors who work in target housing that contains lead paints must first be certified through the EPA’s RRP program.