Changes in both environmental regulations and industry demands can paralyze or, under certain conditions, motivate the building products industry.
"Lead can no longer be used in solder or paint, but it can still be used elsewhere only so long as it doesn't get into the air, soil or water," explains Dr. Mehrooz Zamanzadeh, NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers)-Certified corrosion, coatings, materials selection, and design specialist. "The Clean Water and Clean Air Acts provide federal limits on lead concentrations in water and air, and each state's EPA has its own set of regulations on soil lead concentrations. Permissible concentrations of lead in human blood have been steadily decreasing for the past 50 years, perhaps as a result. It's a useful element that remains in the marketplace, but it is certainly very toxic-so any effective substitute is welcomed."