Lead, Glass And The Environment

The history of lead usage spans some 5000 years. Lead has found considerably wider usage than its natural abundance might suggest. The role of lead in glass manufacture and in particular lead crystal is outlined in this article. Problems involved in replacing lead in glass are discussed. While lead is one of the oldest industrial poisons, it is only in recent years that it has been elevated to the status of a premier environmental concern. The consequences of this have been acute. The roles of international bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS) in reducing exposure to lead are reviewed.