Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Lead
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Overview
The Integrated Science Assessment for Lead provides the U.S. EPA’s evaluation and synthesis of the most policy-relevant science related to the health and welfare effects of lead. Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs) are evaluations of the scientific information related to the human health and welfare effects of criteria pollutants. The ISAs provide a comprehensive evaluation and synthesis of the policy-relevant scientific literature, including that published since the last assessment, and serve as the scientific foundation for establishing and reviewing the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
Lead emitted into air can be inhaled or ingested or can deposit and accumulate in other environmental media (e.g., soil, water, sediment, biota), contributing to a broad array of adverse effects in humans and wildlife, most notably effects on the human nervous system. In 2024, EPA released the Integrated Science Assessment for Lead to assess the human health and welfare effects of exposures to lead.
Read the full report: Integrated Science Assessment for Lead (pdf)
- Appendix 2. Exposure, Toxicokinetics and Biomarkers (pdf)
- Appendix 3. Nervous System Effects (pdf)
- Appendix 4. Cardiovascular Effects (pdf)
- Appendix 5. Renal Effects (pdf)
- Appendix 6. Immune Effects (pdf)
- Appendix 7. Hematological Effects (pdf)
- Appendix 8. Reproductive and Developmental Effects (pdf)
- Appendix 9. Effects on Other Organ Systems and Mortality (pdf)
- Appendix 10. Cancer (pdf)
- Appendix 11. Ecological Effects (pdf)
History of ISAs for Lead
Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
Completed Assessments | |
Jan 2024 | EPA released the document Integrated Science Assessment for Lead (pdf) . This is the most recent Lead ISA. [Federal Register Notice: Feb 7, 2024] |
June 2013 | EPA released the document Integrated Science Assessment for Lead (PDF) (22.1 MB, June 2013, EPA/600/R-10/075F). [Federal Register June 26, 2013] |
Oct 2006 | EPA released the two-volume document Air Quality Criteria for Lead: Volume I (PDF) (10. 4 MB, October 2006, EPA/600/R-5/144bF) and Air Quality Criteria for Lead: Volume II (PDF) (22 MB, October 2006, EPA/600/R-5/144bF). [Federal Register Sep 29, 2006] |
Aug 1990 | EPA released the document Air Quality Criteria for Lead: Supplement to the 1986 Addendum (PDF) (1,978 kb, August 1990, EPA/600/8-89/049F) |
June 1986 | EPA released the four-volume document:
|
Dec 1977 | EPA released the document Air Quality Criteria for Lead (PDF) (21. 6 MB, December 1977, EPA-600/8-77/017). |
The published studies cited and considered in ISAs are identified in the Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database. HERO is a searchable database of more than 1.6 million scientific studies and other references used to develop EPA assessments for understanding the health and environmental effects of pollutants and chemicals. For the most recent final ISA for NOx, these are identified on the ISA - Lead (2024) Project Page.