Lead In Our Environment

Lead is a natural chemical element found in small amounts under the earth’s surface. It is a heavy metal, with the chemical symbol of Pb. It has some benefits but also can be toxic to humans and other animals. Lead can be found everywhere in our environment. It’s in the air, water, soil, and lead can also be found in our houses. People are exposed to lead mainly by swallowing it or breathing it in. It can come from the food that we eat, and the water that we drink (exposure from swallowing). It also can come from pollution that industries and some types of fuels create (exposure from breathing). Much of our lead exposure can come from the environment we live in, including our homes, schools, churches, or other buildings we spend