Directive 1977/312 - Biological screening of the population for lead - Main contents

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Council Directive 77/312/EEC of 29 March 1977 on biological screening of the population for lead

Official Journal L 105 , 28/04/1977 P. 0010 - 0017

Finnish special edition: Chapter 15 Volume 2 P. 0063

Greek special edition: Chapter 05 Volume 2 P. 0174

Swedish special edition: Chapter 15 Volume 2 P. 0063

Spanish special edition: Chapter 05 Volume 2 P. 0125

Portuguese special edition Chapter 05 Volume 2 P. 0125

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 29 March 1977 on biological screening of the population for lead (77/312/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),

Whereas one of the essential tasks of the European Economic Community is to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic activities and a continuous and balanced expansion, neither of which can be achieved without combating pollution and nuisances and improving the quality of life and the protection of the environment;

Whereas the various uses of lead are at present causing contamination of many areas of the environment by this substance;

Whereas the many environmental sources of lead make it difficult to determine the total exposure of any one individual to this pollutant and therefore the protection of human health calls for the most accurate possible monitoring of the individual's total lead absorption;

Whereas biological screening of the population for lead should be carried out and the results of this screening evaluated so that, where appropriate, new proposals may be drawn up;

Whereas it is desirable to lay down the technical procedures and biological reference levels for such screening;

Whereas measurement of blood lead level is currently the best means of assessing the quantity of lead recently received by an individual as a result of exposure to environmental lead ; whereas the enzymatic activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) may be used as an indicative or supplementary test for determining exposure to lead;

Whereas the programme of action of the European Communities on the environment (3) provides for the coordination of national programmes having as their aim the improvement of the quality of life and for priority investigation into lead,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

The Member States shall take the necessary steps to apply a common procedure for biological screening in order to assess the exposure of the population to lead outside the working environment.

Article 2

This common procedure, the application of which shall be restricted to four years, shall be based on the measurement of blood lead levels.

As an indicative or supplementary test, the ALAD measurement may also be used in accordance with the procedures laid down in Annexes II and III. (1)OJ No C 28, 9.2.1976, p. 31. (2)OJ No C 50, 4.3.1976, p. 9. (3)OJ No C 112, 20.12.1973, p. 3.

Article 3

• 1. 

  The conditions for biological screening shall be fixed by means of: - sampling and analysis procedures,

• - 

  frequency of sampling.

• 2. 

  Blood sampling shall be carried out on volunteers.

Article 4

Sampling shall be carried out on: - groups of at least 100 persons in urban areas with more than 500 000 inhabitants,

• - 

  groups of at least 100 persons, in so far as this is feasible, chosen from among people exposed to significant sources of lead pollution,

• - 

  critical groups determined by the competent authorities in the Member States.

In each Member State and during each campaign the number of analyses to be performed shall be 50 or more per million inhabitants.

Article 5

The sampling of the groups referred to in Article 4 shall...

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