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<br /> 5. POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE
<br /> 5.7 ADEQUACY OF THE DATABASE The
<br /> Section 104(i)(5) of CERCLA, as amended, directs the Administrator of ATSDR (in consultation with the air qdrink
<br /> Administrator of EPA and agencies and programs of the Public Health Service) to assess whether adequate comp
<br /> information on the health effects of lead is available. Where adequate information is not available, fa
<br /> ATSDR, in conjunction with NTP, is regpired to assure the initiation of a program of research designed or or fa
<br /> to determine the health effects (and techniques for developing methods to determine such health effects)
<br /> of lead. Accoi
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<br /> The following categories of possible data needs have been identified by a joint team of scientists from The 3
<br /> ATSDR, NTP, and EPA. They are defined as substance-specific informational needs that if met would The(TRI
<br /> reduce or eliminate the uncertainties of human health assessment. This definition should not be emissi
<br /> interpreted to mean that all data needs discussed in this section must be filled. In the future, the
<br /> identified data needs will be evaluated and prioritized, and a substance-specific research agenda will be Envir
<br /> proposed. (Getz
<br /> transp
<br /> 5.7.1 Identification of Data Needs atmos
<br /> Physical and Chemical Properties. The physical and chemical properties of lead and its compounds are of innansfc
<br /> sufficiently well defined to allow an estimation of the environmental fate of lead to be made (Budavari et the rtrstrc
<br /> al. 1989; Howe 1981; HSDB 1990, 1992; Lide 1992; Sax 1984; Sax and Lewis 1987). Availabilities of the elemet
<br /> various forms need to be modeled. transfc
<br /> determ,
<br /> Production, Import/Export, Use, and Release and Disposal. Lead is produced and imported for of leac
<br /> widespread use in the United States. Therefore, the potential for human exposure in the workplace, the
<br /> home, the environment, and at waste sites may be substantial. Bioaw
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<br /> Lead is produced from both primary (i.e., mined ore) and secondary (i.e., scrap metal and wastes) sources, by by n
<br /> and is imported by the United States. In 1990, production from primary and secondary sources was may in
<br /> 878 million pounds and 923 thousand pounds, respectively (U.S. Department of the Interior 1991), and althouf
<br /> imports reached 93,000 metric tons (U.S. Department of Commerce). U.S. consumption of lead was ex osui
<br /> approximately 1,473 million pounds during that year (U.S. Department of Commerce 1992). In 1986, 70% lead or
<br /> of the lead consumed went for lead acid batteries, gasoline additives, and other applications. Construction,
<br /> ammunition, electrical uses, television glass, and paint represented 25% of consumption and 5% was used Food
<br /> for ceramics, type metal, ballast or weights, tubes or containers (U.S. Department of Interior 1987b). (Eisler
<br /> Because of the adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead, its use in paints, ceramic products, additio►
<br /> gasoline additives, and solder has declined in recent years. Between 1981 and 1989, lead exports fluctuated
<br /> between 4,000 metric tons and 51,000 metric tons before reaching a level only 19,000 metric tons below ExpOSL
<br /> the level of imports in 1990 (U.S. Department of Commerce 1992 . As a result of the decline in the use
<br /> of lead in gasoline, updated information on the release and disposal of lead would be helpful in assessing and Jac
<br /> accurately the potential for exposure to lead and its compounds. 1979, N
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<br /> Lead is recycled or disposed in landfills. An estimated 70-75% of the lead consumed in the United States the lead
<br /> can be recycled. In 1981, approximately 50% of the demand for lead was met through recycling lead intake 6
<br /> products, mostly lead batteries (Howe 1981). Industrial wastes as well as consumer products containing (paheka
<br /> lead are disposed of in municipal and hazardous waste landfills. Current information on the amounts being `ava beka
<br /> recycled and disposed is needed to evaluate the potential for exposure to lead.
<br /> Howevei
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