Lead

Lead was for many years primarily emitted to the atmosphere from motor vehicles that burned leaded gasoline. Lead can affect the central nervous system and lead to anemia. The young and the elderly are most susceptible to the harmful effects of lead.

Over the last ten years, the lead content of fuels has been reduced and, today, almost all fuels are lead free. With the phase-out of leaded gasoline, exposure to this pollutant by inhalation has become far less likely.

Ambient air concentrations of lead in Florida reflect the decrease in auto emissions. Except for locations very near a small number of stationary sources which emit significant amounts of lead - such as secondary lead smelters - lead concentrations in Florida's air are nearly zero.