Document 4ad9qoYojjZzw2kLMngR812e

air andwater news McGraw-Hill's weekly report on environmental pollution: the law, the markets, the technology Vol. 5, No. 35 September 6, 1971 * Wouthmst SPA Chief As van Defends His Appointment: page 3 * Supreme Court Justices' Stock Holdings May Affect Some Rulings: page 4 * Coast Guard Suddenly Becomes Environmental Watchdog: page 4 * ffisslestian Scrubber Cleans Jet-Engine Po&erplsnts Economically: page 5 LEAD IN AIR HAZARDOUS TO CHILDREN, NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL SAYS The National Research Council, in a report to be re leased ..this week, concludes that atmospheric lead in urban areas could pose & health hazard to children and certain classes of workers, but not to the general population. Viewed in the same light as the Environmental Protection Agency criteria documents for such pollutants as sulfur dioxide (AWN, May 3, p. 1), the report seems to give a strong impetus for restrict ing gasoline lead for health reasons. The research was done by the council's committee on biologic effects of atmospheric pollutants. The report concludes that young children in inner cities have greater amounts of lead in their blood than adults and that this may be from eating soil or dust contaminated by airborne lead, as well as breathing the polluted air and possibly eating lead-based .paints. The lead concentrations are sufficient to cause biochemical changes, but not sufficient to cause lead poisoning symptoms, the report says. There also is a potential danger for some traffic policemen, garage men and others whose work exposes them to high |@ad levels, the council report says. The report Airborne Lead in Perspective is available in advance typescript copies for $15 from the printing and publishing office. National Academy of Sciences, 2102 Con stitution Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418. The printed version will be available in a few months at lower cost. *++ OF NATIONAL EiWXRONMENTAi POLICY ACT A federal judge with a record of opposition to conservationists last week came out with an inter pretation which, if left unchallenged, could under mine the effect#of the environmental impact statements. Federal District Judge George L. Hart of Washington, D.C., said in court that his job was not to rule on the adequacy of the impact statements--it was only to note that they were submitted, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The case in point: eight environmental groups filed suit to stop the Atomic Energy Commission and the Defense Department from conducting a nuclear warhead test this fall in Alaska. Judge Hart dismissed the suit in a brief statement"that did not mention the en vironmental impact statement. But David Sive, attorney for the environmental groups. JV13803 0000-NLI-0000206