Lead Tops the List of North American Industrial Pollutants

According to the Montreal-based Commission for Environmental Co-operation lead and its compounds remain the leading developmental toxin released by industrial facilities, with much of it coming from just three base metal smelters in Canada.

"We see that lead comes out at the top of the list in terms of developmental toxicants and known or suspected carcinogens," said commission spokesman Evan Lloyd.

Lead may accumulate in the human body causing nervous system damage in fetuses and small children, which can lead to problems with their physical and mental development. It can also cause cancer.

BEWARE.