Hazards to health from environmental lead exposure: a review of recent literature.

There are adequate demonstrations of the adult and pediatric health risks associated with lead exposure. This document presents the scientific facts surrounding human health effects as well as providing an interpretation of some of the animal toxicology studies. There are numerous circumstances where economic and societal pressures have resulted in the continued use of materials that are potentially toxic, hazardous and injurious to the public health and welfare. While declining, the present use of lead in gasoline and its airborne release from smelting and metal refining industries located near metropolitan centers is no exception. The demonstration that continued lead exposure from airborne sources results in intellectual deficiency should be sufficient to result in the mobilization of public health resources and the minimization or elimination, if necessary, of such hazards to the public welfare. Based on this review, this is the position that is suggested by the authors of this document.