Inorganic and Organic Lead Compounds

The 87th volume of IARC monographs contains evaluations of inorganic and organic lead components. Lead salts and organic lead compounds were considered by the IARC Monographs Working Groups. Since 1987, new epidemiological and experimental studies have become available. Lead is found at low concentrations in the earth's crust, predominantly as lead sulfide, but the widespread occurrence of lead in the environment is largely the result of human activity. As a result, human exposure to lead is universal, and all humans carry a body burden of lead. Lead has long been of concern for its adverse health effects other than cancer, in particular its neuro-development effects on the fetus, infants, and children. These health effects are discussed in this volume in some detail. The main focus of this monograph is on the epidemiological studies and experimental investigations attempting to determine whether exposure to lead is associated with the development of some forms of cancer.