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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Cynthia J. Herrick, BA¹, Ted Heisel, JD², Peter W. Goode, PE³, Maxine I. Lipeles, JD³, and Bradley A. Evanoff, MD, MPH¹. (1) Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8005, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, 314-753-8992, cynthia.herrick@gmail.com, (2) Missouri Coalition for the Environment, 6267 Delmar Blvd., Suite 2E, St. Louis, MO 63130, (3) Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic, Washington University School of Law, Campus Box 1120, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130

Introduction: The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead (1.5 ug/m³) were established in 1978 when the “acceptable” blood lead threshold was 30 ug/dl. The EPA recently submitted a new draft air quality criteria document (AQCD) for public comment.

Methods: We reviewed the AQCD and recent literature relevant to the relationship between blood lead and air lead.

Results: There is now extensive evidence for the adverse health effects of lead, especially the neurotoxic effects of low-level lead exposure (< 10 ug/dl). The Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model used by the EPA may underestimate the responsiveness of blood lead to reductions in air lead for children living around smelters. Three studies published since the last lead NAAQS review demonstrate blood to air lead slopes between 3.6 and 6 ug/dl per ug/m³. These slopes reflect both direct and indirect exposures to air lead. The WHO air lead standard (0.5 ug/m³) is based on a comparable blood to air lead slope (5 ug/dl per ug/m³); in contrast, the EPA's 1978 standard used a slope of 2 ug/dl per ug/m³, accounting only for direct inhalation of air lead.

Conclusions: The current lead NAAQS are based on an outdated blood lead threshold, and new evidence suggests that even the current CDC blood lead threshold of 10 ug/dl may not be protective. A new ambient air standard must be based on the blood to air lead relationship for the most vulnerable populations, and it should reflect all exposure pathways to air lead.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify the problems with the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead.
• Discuss the data supporting a new ambient air standard for lead.
• Recognize the important contribution of air lead to blood lead for children living near smelters.

Keywords: Air Quality, Lead

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered