Chemical Substances
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Lead
What is it?
Lead is a highly toxic metal which occurs naturally in the earth's crust.
Where is it found and how is it used?
Lead has many industrial uses. We are exposed to lead from the air, soil, household dust, food, drinking water and some consumer products. Lead is in the air from industrial emissions, smelters and refineries. Lead can enter some drinking water systems from old lead pipes or lead solder. Some other consumer products not manufactured in Canada may contain lead. Old lead-based paint can be a source of lead exposure in some homes, especially pre-1960.
What are its effects?
Exposure to lead can have serious health impacts, and can even be fatal at high doses. Lead builds up in the body, and exposure to even very low levels can be harmful. There is evidence that lead is especially harmful to infants, young children and pregnant women, and can permanently affect children's development, including intellectual and behavioural development.
What are we doing?
The amount of lead in the environment increased dramatically in the 1920s and stayed at higher levels until the 1970s, when the lead was gradually phased out of gasoline and paint, and lead solder is no longer used in food cans. The Government of Canada continues to reduce the potential risks from lead exposure. For instance, there are guidelines for lead content in drinking water, and Health Canada has developed a Lead Risk Reduction Strategy for Consumer Products to control lead levels in four categories of consumer products to which children are most likely to be exposed.
Being informed is the best protection. Find out more about lead and reducing your exposure by reading the 
It's Your Health - Effects of Lead on Human Health fact sheet.
Health effects for any substance depend on the inherent toxicity of the substance, the amount of exposure, and how that exposure occurs.
