Briefly, what do I need to know about lead in an emergency situation?
Lead is a bluish-white, silvery, gray heavy, ductile, soft metal which tarnishes on exposure to air. It is probably odourless. Lead is a COMBUSTIBLE DUST. When heated in air, it forms highly toxic lead oxide fumes. There is a DANGER OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS if lead is inhaled or ingested. Symptoms may include headache, fatigue, nausea, abdominal cramps, joint pain, metallic taste in the mouth, vomiting and constipation or bloody diarrhea. Lead can cause harmful effects to the nervous system.
It is a POSSIBLE CANCER HAZARD - may cause cancer, based on animal information, and a REPRODUCTIVE HAZARD - may cause harmful effects in the unborn child and may have serious adverse effects on the male and female reproductive systems. Lead is also a MUTAGEN - may cause genetic damage.
Where do you find lead?
Lead is used in the manufacture of storage batteries, ammunition, nuclear and X-ray shielding devices, cable coverings in the power and communication industries, lead sheet for roofing, restoration of old buildings and chemically resistant linings, noise control materials, electrical and electronic equipment, motor vehicles and other transportation equipment, and as a bearing metal. It is used in brass and bronze alloys, casting metals, glass making, ceramic glazes, plastic stabilizers and paints, pipes, traps and bends, and other extruded products for building construction, fuel and storage tanks, process vessels, and in some solders. Minor uses include products such as wheel weights, yacht keels, ornamental items and stained glass. The use of lead in gasoline, paints, pigments and coloured inks is restricted or eliminated in many countries.
Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in small amounts in the earth's crust. However, the occurrence of concentrated and easily accessible lead ore deposits is unexpectedly high and these are widely distributed throughout the world. Lead occurs chiefly as lead sulfide in galena.
What should I know about the composition and purity of lead?
Commercial lead has a minimum purity of 99.85-99.985% and may contain bismuth, antimony, tin, arsenic, copper, iron, silver and zinc as impurities. It isavailable as foil, ingot, rod, shot, wire and powder.
What are some synonyms for lead?
Lead is also known as lead flake, lead metal, and elemental lead. The Latin name plumbum is the source the atomic symbol Pb for lead. Plomb is the French name for lead.
With so many names for lead, is there a unique identifier for this chemical?
Its CAS Registry Number is 7439-92-1. This number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) in the United States and is used as a unique identifier number world-wide.
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