Key Points

Fire

• Reacts with hot concentrated nitric acid, boiling hydrochloric or sulphuric acid
• May cause explosions on contact with hydrogen peroxide or sodium, potassium or magnesium and their salts
• In the event of a fire involving lead, use fine water spray and normal fire kit with breathing apparatus

Health

• Toxicity most frequently results from ingestion or inhalation and rarely from dermal or ocular exposure
• Harmful
• Metallic taste, severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea with black stools, vomiting, hypotension, muscle weakness, cramps, fatigue, abnormal liver function tests, acute interstitial nephritis are all recognised features following acute exposure

Environment

• Dangerous for the environment
• Inform Environment Agency of substantial release incidents

 

Frequently Asked Questions       Hazard Identification

• Lead - Hazard Identification
  Added/updated: 8 October 2008
  
• Lead - Physicochemical Properties
  Added/updated: 8 October 2008
  
• Lead - Threshold Toxicity Values
  Added/updated: 11 September 2008
  
• Lead - Published Emergency Response Guidelines
  Added/updated: 11 September 2008
  
• Lead - Exposure Standards, Guidelines or Regulations
  Added/updated: 11 September 2008
  
• Lead - Health Effects
  Added/updated: 11 September 2008
  
• Lead - Decontamination and First Aid
  Added/updated: 8 October 2008