Current standards and their relation to environmental behaviour and effects--the case of lead

Lead enters the environment from a large number of point and diffuse sources. Several control options are available to reduce the input of lead to the environment and these have been utilised in the large number of European Community (EC) Directives adopted to control lead. The use of Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) is the most effective option to control pollutants entering an individual compartment from both point and diffuse sources since EQS take into account behaviour and effects of the pollutant in the environment. Future legislation to control pollution in one compartment should consider the potential implications for effects on the other compartments by using the "Best Environmental Options" approach and by combining the different options available to achieve environmental improvement.