EPA Reconsiders Monitoring Requirements for Airborne Lead

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EPA Reconsiders Monitoring Requirements for Airborne Lead

August 7, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS

lead air pollution

EPA last revised its air quality monitoring requirements for lead in 2008. At the same time, the agency tightened the national air quality standards for lead for the first time in 30 years.

The current rule requires air quality monitoring in areas where any industry emits at least one ton of lead to the air each year and in the 101 urban areas with populations of 500,000 or more.

The EPA will consider whether additional monitoring near industrial sources of lead is warranted. The agency also will reconsider the monitoring requirements for urban areas as part of its review. However, it is not reconsidering the lead standards.

Lead that is emitted into the air can be inhaled or can be ingested after it settles out of the air. Ingestion is the main route of human exposure. Children are the most susceptible because they may be likely to ingest lead and their bodies are developing rapidly, experts said.

Exposures to low levels of lead early in life have been linked to "damage" to IQ, learning, memory and behavior. There is no known safe level of lead in the body, according to the EPA.

The EPA's reconsideration will not delay implementation of the 2008 lead standards. The EPA will issue a proposal and take public comment before deciding whether to revise the lead monitoring requirements.

The agency anticipates issuing a proposal for public review and comment later this summer and a final rule in spring 2010.