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Significant Changes Proposed for Lead Emissions, Monitoring

Release Date: 05/01/2008
Contact Information: David Bryan, (913) 551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., May 1, 2008) - EPA proposed a significant reduction in the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead emissions May 1. The Agency proposes to move the standard from the 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air it has been since 1978 to a range of 0.10 to 0.30 micrograms per cubic meter. EPA also proposes to revise various elements of the standard to provide increased protection for children and other at-risk populations against an array of adverse health effects, most notably, effects on the developing nervous system.

The U.S. District Court in St. Louis ordered the lead NAAQS review and set the schedule in response to a lawsuit by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment in September 2005. Consistent with the terms of a court order, the EPA Administrator will sign a notice of final rulemaking by September 15, 2008 for publication in the Federal Register.

Region 7 has one of only two nonattainment areas in the U.S. for the lead emissions standard in Herculaneum, Mo., also the home of the only lead smelter in the country and designated as a Superfund site.

Region 7 will host one of two public meetings to discuss the lead standard June 12 in St. Louis, Mo. A separate announcement will be made with specifics regarding the meeting at a later date.

EPA has asked for comments regarding the tightening of the NAAQS standard, adjusting the monitoring and an implementation strategy. The 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter standard was established in 1978 and has not been changed.

Missouri's lead monitoring sites are presently located in St. Louis, Jefferson and Iron counties. Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska currently have no monitoring stations for lead emissions. Comment is sought on expanding the monitoring network to both source-based sites and large metropolitan areas. Source-based sites include smelters, iron and steel foundries, and general aviation gasoline. The metropolitan area monitoring would be required for metropolitan areas that exceed 1,000,000 in population (Kansas City and St. Louis).

Exposure to lead pollution is associated with a broad range of health effects including damage to the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, kidneys, and red blood cells. Lead emitted into the air can be inhaled directly or ingested after it settles onto surfaces or soils. Children are the most vulnerable to damaging effects of lead because their body systems are developing rapidly.