The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) has refused to extend the list of prescribed industrial diseases linked to occupational lead exposure. IIAC’s review of the evidence followed press coverage of a highly critical November 2009 Hazards magazine report. Hazards noted: “Thousands of UK workers are being exposed to levels of lead that can cause serious chronic health problems including cancer, major organ and brain damage. Using never before published data, Hazards reveals that the UK’s ‘safe’ lead exposure standard is placing these workers at risk of kidney and heart disease, brain damage, cancer and other serious disorders.” In its November 2010 report, IIAC noted: “Concerns were expressed in the media in 2009 that a number of conditions, thought to be associated with occupational exposure to lead, were not covered in the list of prescribed diseases for which people can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Having reviewed the evidence on lead exposed workers and fertility, only a slight effect on male fertility was shown, and little evidence was found relating to the effect on female workers. Despite substantial evidence of a potential association between lead exposed workers and the overall risk of developing cancer, evidence relating to specific cancer sites was small. The council was unable to make recommendations for changes to the list of prescribed diseases for which people can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.” Lead was last reviewed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2006. It concluded: “Inorganic lead compounds are probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A).” Lead has been linked to brain, central nervous system, kidney and other cancers.

Exposure to lead: effects on fertility and cancer, IIAC position paper 28, 23 November 2010. Also see: Dangerous lead, Hazards special report, November 2009.