WHAT IS LEAD?
Lead is a heavy, low melting, bluish-gray metal that occurs naturally in the Earth's crust.
However, it is rarely found naturally as a metal. It is usually found combined with two or more
other elements to form lead compounds.
Metallic lead is resistant to corrosion (i.e., not easily attacked by air or water). When exposed to
air or water, thin films of lead compounds are formed that protect the metal from further attack.
Lead is easily molded and shaped. Lead can be combined with other metals to form alloys.
Lead and lead alloys are commonly found in pipes, storage batteries, weights, shot and ammunition, cable covers, and sheets used to shield us from radiation. The largest use for lead is
in storage batteries in cars and other vehicles.
Lead compounds are used as a pigment in paints, dyes, and ceramic glazes and in caulk. The
amount of lead used in these products has been reduced in recent years to minimize lead’s
harmful effect on people and animals. Tetraethyl lead and tetramethyl lead were once used in
the United States as gasoline additives to increase octane rating. However, their use was phased
out in the United States in the 1980s, and lead was banned for use in gasoline for motor vehicles
beginning January 1, 1996. Tetraethyl lead may still be used in gasoline for off-road vehicles
and airplanes. It is also still used in a number of developing countries. Lead used in
ammunition, which is the largest non-battery end-use, has remained fairly constant in recent
years. However, even the use of lead in bullets and shot as well as in fishing sinkers is being
reduced because of its harm to the environment.
Most lead used by industry comes from mined ores ("primary") or from recycled scrap metal or
batteries ("secondary"). Lead is mined in the United States, primarily in Alaska and Missouri.
However, most lead today is “secondary” lead obtained from lead-acid batteries. It is reported
that 97% of these batteries are recycled.
For more information on the physical and chemical properties of lead, please see Chapter 4. For
more on the production and use of lead, please see Chapter 5.