Trends and Patterns in Industrial and Commercial Sources of Lead (Pb) in the US

Background and Aim Lead (Pb) exposures in the US have declined over the last 40 years due to phaseout of Pb in gasoline, residential paint, and plumbing. However, Pb still circulates in commerce (batteries, ammunition, glass, pigments, e-waste). While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tracks large industrial movements of Pb (>25,000lbs), modest Pb movements are not identified and may translate to substantial cumulative exposure and public health significance due to proximity to residences, schools, or places of work. This research aims to identify and evaluate trends in commercial sources of Pb in the US. Methods Peer-reviewed literature was used to identify relevant commercial sources of Pb and link to corresponding Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. Counts of each SIC code were calculated per census tract, using geolocations from Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) from 1990-2018. Data capturing measurable Pb emissions (Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)) and area-level socioeconomic measures (CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index) were further linked by census tract. Data were analyzed using R and ArcGIS. Results A total of 31 unique SIC codes were identified, corresponding to >1,300 potential Pb-emitting businesses in 1,265 census tracts. The most common commercial businesses represented shooting ranges (n=838) and refuse systems (n=221). Preliminary analyses data indicate widespread current Pb-emitting industries are widespread but further socioeconomic and Pb-emission data will be analyzed. Preliminary data show a decline in some identified industries over time. Conclusions Preliminary results show the number of Pb-emitting industries has decreased over time in the US. However, certain geographic areas of the United States yield higher densities of Pb-emitting industries and commercial businesses, which could have a profound public health significance. The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Keywords: Lead (Pb) exposure, environmental justice