EPA Recent Lead (Pb) Research

Close up through a magnifying glass of Lead from the periodic table EPA researchers work closely with the Agency’s Office of Land and Emergency Management, Regional Offices, states, and local communities to support environmental assessments of lead-contaminated sites and to provide information, data, tools, and models that support clean-up and remediation to protect public health. See below of highlights and links to available resources and the latest scientific and technical publications.

Examples of recent EPA scientific publications on lead research are listed below by title and citation. To search for and view additional scientific and technical products and publications by EPA researhcers, their partners, and grantees please visit EPA’s Science Inventory and type “lead” in the search box.

Highlights of recent EPA lead research publications are listed below.

Air

Characterization of M4 carbine rifle emissions with three ammunition types

Aurell, J., A. Holder, B. Gullett, K. McNesby, AND J. Weinstein. Characterization of M4 Carbine Rifle Emissions With Three Ammunition Types. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 254(A):112982, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.112982

Methodological factors influencing inhalation bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s in PM2.5 using simulated lung fluid Exit

Kastury, F., Smith, E., Karna, R. R., Scheckel, K. G., & Juhasz, A. L. (2018). Methodological factors influencing inhalation bioaccessibility of metal (loid) s in PM2. 5 using simulated lung fluid. Environmental Pollution, 241, 930-937.

Health

A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the interrelationships between chemical and non-chemical stressors and inherent characteristics in children with ADHD Exit

Nilsen, F. AND N. Tulve. A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the interrelationships between chemical and non-chemical stressors and inherent characteristics in children with ADHD. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 180:108884, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108884

Children’s Lead Exposure: A Multimedia Modeling Analysis to Guide Public Health Decision-Making Exit

Zartarian V., Xue J., Tornero-Velez R., Brown J. (2017). Children’s Lead Exposure: A Multimedia Modeling Analysis to Guide Public Health Decision-Making. Environmental Health Perspectives (Online). 125(9). http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP1605

Estimates of Urinary Blood Lead Clearance and its Relationship to Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on a Large Population SurveyExit

Diamond, G. L., Thayer, W. C., Brown, J. S., Burgess, M., Follansbee, M. H., Gaines, L. G., & Klotzbach, J. M. (2019). Estimates of urinary blood lead clearance and its relationship to glomerular filtration rate based on a large population survey. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 82(5), 379-382. DOI:10.1080/15287394.2019.1603280

Relationship between Pb relative bioavailability and bioaccessibility in phosphate amended soil: Uncertainty associated with predicting Pb immobilization efficacy using in vitro assays Exit

Kastury, F., S. Placitu, J. Boland, R. Karna, Kirk G. Scheckel, E. Smith, AND A. Juhasz. Relationship between Pb relative bioavailability and bioaccessibility in phosphate amended soil: Uncertainty associated with predicting Pb immobilization efficacy using in vitro assays. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 131:104967, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.104967

Systematic review and meta-analyses of lead (Pb) concentrations in environmental media (soil, dust, water, food, and air) reported in the United States from 1996 to 2016Exit

Frank, J., A. Poulakos, R. Tornero-Velez, AND J. Xue. Systematic review and meta-analyses of lead (Pb) concentrations in environmental media (soil, dust, water, food, and air) reported in the United States from 1996 to 2016. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 694:133489, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.295

In Vitro, in Vivo, and Spectroscopic Assessment of Lead Exposure Reduction via Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways Using Phosphate and Iron AmendmentsExit

Kastury, F., Smith, E., Doelsch, E., Lombi, E., Donnelley, M., Cmielewski, P. L., ... & Herde, C. (2019). In Vitro, in Vivo, and Spectroscopic Assessment of Lead Exposure Reduction via Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways Using Phosphate and Iron Amendments. Environmental science & technology, 53(17), 10329-10341.

Dynamics of lead bioavailability, speciation and spectroscopic investigation of the link between ingestion and inhalation pathwaysExit

Kastury, F., Smith, E., Lombi, E., Donnelley, M. W., Cmielewski, P. L., Parsons, D. W., ... & Paterson, D. (2019). Dynamics of lead bioavailability and speciation in indoor dust and x-ray spectroscopic investigation of the link between ingestion and inhalation pathways. Environmental science & technology, 53(19), 11486-11495.

Methodological factors influencing inhalation bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s in PM2.5 using simulated lung fluidExit

Water

Design and Testing of USEPA's Flint Pipe Rig for Corrosion Control EvaluationEXIT

Williams, D. J., Parrett, C. J., Schock, M. R., Muhlen, C., Donnelly, P., & Lytle, D. A. (2018). Design and Testing of USEPA'S Flint Pipe Rig for Corrosion Control Evaluation. Journal‐American Water Works Association, 110(10), E16-E37.

Field analyzers for lead quantification in drinking water samplesExit

Dore, E., D. Lytle, L. Wasserstrom, J. Swertfeger, AND S. Triantafyllidou. Field Analyzers for Lead Quantification in Drinking Water Samples. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, 50(20):1-31, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2020.1782654

Point-of-Use (POU) Water Filters Effectively Reduce Lead in Drinking Water: A Demonstration Field Study in Flint, MichiganExit

Bosscher, V., Lytle, D. A., Schock, M. R., Porter, A., & Del Toral, M. (2019). POU water filters effectively reduce lead in drinking water: a demonstration field study in flint, Michigan. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 54(5), 484-493. DOI:

Mineralogical evidence of galvanic corrosion in drinking water lead pipe joints Exit

DeSantis, M. K., Triantafyllidou, S., Schock, M. R., & Lytle, D. A. (2018). Mineralogical evidence of galvanic corrosion in drinking water lead pipe joints. Environmental science & technology, 52(6), 3365-3374.

Modeled Impacts of Drinking Water Pb Reduction Scenarios on Children’s Exposures and Blood Lead LevelsExit

Stanek, L., J. Xue, C. Lay, E. Helm, T. Speth, D. Lytle, M. Schock, AND V. Zartarian. Modeled Impacts of Drinking Water Pb Reduction Scenarios on Children’s Exposures and Blood Lead Levels. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 54(15):9474-9482, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c00479

Sequential drinking water sampling as a tool for evaluating lead in flint, MichiganExit

Lytle, D. A., Schock, M. R., Wait, K., Cahalan, K., Bosscher, V., Porter, A., & Del Toral, M. (2019). Sequential drinking water sampling as a tool for evaluating lead in flint, Michigan. Water research, 157, 40-54.

Technical Support Summary, Water Infrastructure Division, Fiscal Year 2019Exit

Muhlen, C., L. Voutsikakis, R. Murray, AND J. Tully. Technical Support Summary, Water Infrastructure Division, Fiscal Year 2019. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-20/328, 2020.

Water quality-pipe deposit relationships in Midwestern lead pipesExit

Tully, J., DeSantis, M. K., & Schock, M. R. (2019). Water quality–pipe deposit relationships in Midwestern lead pipes. AWWA Water Science, 1(2), e1127.

Land and Legacy Lead Pollution

(Note: includes publications of site characterization and remediation involving soil, air/inhalation, and bioaccessibility)

Dietary Lead and Phosphate Interactions Affect Oral Bioavailability of Soil Lead in the Mouse Exit

Bradham, K., C. Nelson, G. Diamond, W. Thayer, Kirk G. Scheckel, Matthew Noerpel, K. Herbin-Davis, B. Elek, AND D. Thomas. Dietary Lead and Phosphate Interactions Affect Oral Bioavailability of Soil Lead in the Mouse. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 53(21):12556-12564, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b02803

Dynamics of Lead Bioavailability and Speciation in Indoor Dust and X-ray Spectroscopic Investigation of the Link between Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways Exit

Kastury, F., E. Smith, E. Lombi, M. Donnelley, P. Cmielewski, D. Parsons, M. Noerpel, Kirk G. Scheckel, A. Kingston, G. Myers, D. Paterson, M. de Jonge, AND A. Juhasz. Dynamics of Lead Bioavailability and Speciation in Indoor Dust and X-ray Spectroscopic Investigation of the Link between Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 53(19):11486-11495, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b03249

Long-Term in Situ Reduction in Soil Lead Bioavailability Measured in a Mouse ModelExit

Bradham, K. D., Diamond, G. L., Nelson, C. M., Noerpel, M., Scheckel, K. G., Elek, B., ... & Thomas, D. J. (2018). Long-term in situ reduction in soil lead bioavailability measured in a mouse model. Environmental science & technology, 52(23), 13908-13913.

Dietary Lead and Phosphate Interactions Affect Oral Bioavailability of Soil Lead in the MouseExit

Bradham, K. D., Nelson, C. M., Diamond, G. L., Thayer, W. C., Scheckel, K. G., Noerpel, M., ... & Thomas, D. J. (2019). Dietary Lead and Phosphate Interactions Affect Oral Bioavailability of Soil Lead in the Mouse. Environmental science & technology, 53(21), 12556-12564.

Point of Zero Charge: Role in Pyromorphite Formation and Bioaccessibility of Lead and Arsenic in Phosphate-Amended SoilsExit

Karna, R. R., Noerpel, M. R., Luxton, T. P., & Scheckel, K. G. (2018). Point of zero charge: role in pyromorphite formation and bioaccessibility of lead and arsenic in phosphate-amended soils. Soil systems, 2(2), 22.

Methodological factors influencing inhalation bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s in PM2.5 using simulated lung fluidExit

Systematic review and meta-analyses of lead (Pb) concentrations in environmental media (soil, dust, water, food, and air) reported in the United States from 1996 to 2016Exit

Frank, J. J., Poulakos, A. G., Tornero-Velez, R., & Xue, J. (2019). Systematic review and meta-analyses of lead (Pb) concentrations in environmental media (soil, dust, water, food, and air) reported in the United States from 1996 to 2016. Science of The Total Environment.

Point of Zero Charge: Role in Pyromorphite Formation and Bioaccessibility of Lead and Arsenic in Phosphate-Amended SoilsExit

In Vitro, in Vivo, and Spectroscopic Assessment of Lead Exposure Reduction via Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways Using Phosphate and Iron AmendmentsExit

Dynamics of lead bioavailability, speciation and spectroscopic investigation of the link between ingestion and inhalation pathwaysExit

Relationship between Pb relative bioavailability and bioaccessibility in phosphate amended soil: Uncertainty associated with predicting Pb immobilization efficacy using in vitro assaysExit

Kastury, F., Placitu, S., Boland, J., Karna, R. R., Scheckel, K. G., Smith, E., & Juhasz, A. L. (2019). Relationship between Pb relative bioavailability and bioaccessibility in phosphate amended soil: Uncertainty associated with predicting Pb immobilization efficacy using in vitro assays. Environment international, 131, 104967.

Influence of Phosphate Amendment and Zinc Foliar Application on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Wheat and on Soil Extractability Impacted by a Lead-Smelter Near Jiyuan, ChinaExit

Xing, W., Cao, E., Scheckel, K. G., Bai, X., & Li, L. (2018). Influence of phosphate amendment and zinc foliar application on heavy metal accumulation in wheat and on soil extractability impacted by a lead smelter near Jiyuan, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(31), 31396-31406.

Spatial Distribution of Smelter Emission Heavy Metals on Farmland SoilExit

Xing, W., Zheng, Y., Scheckel, K. G., Luo, Y., & Li, L. (2019). Spatial distribution of smelter emission heavy metals on farmland soil. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 191(2), 115.

Advances in characterizing microbial community change and resistance upon exposure to lead contamination: Implications for ecological risk assessmentExit

George, S. E., & Wan, Y. (2016). Advances in characterizing microbial community change and resistance upon exposure to lead contamination: Implications for ecological risk assessment. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 1-48.