The risk over time of the uses of lead currently remaining in Europe have been analysed in a study sponsored by the European Commission. Now that the use of leaded petrol is reduced to close to zero, current emissions, mainly into soil and water, are the result of the slow corrosion of lead and will continue for some time even if the application of uses such as lead plating and lead shot, the main emission sources (after leaded petrol), is stopped immediately.

Corrosion from lead plating is the main contributor to lead pollution of sewage sludge and emission into water. This is one of the reasons why sewage sludge is no longer used as a fertiliser in quite a number of EU member states. Preventive policies to clean sewage sludge should address the emissions from the use of lead as plating material in the building sector. The residual flows from waste incineration are of special concern. These are voluminous flows like fly ash and slag, and several EU member states prefer to re-use these materials in road building and other building products. This might result in a greater use of lead in the building sector. It appears that under unfavourable conditions, young children may exceed their tolerable daily intake. Therefore, for children there is a need for further information and testing.