EPA Recent Lead (Pb) Research Publications

EPA researchers work closely with Agency program and regional offices, states, Tribes, and local communities to address lead issues and protect public health. Recent EPA lead research publications are highlighted on this page:

• Air Research
• Drinking Water Research
• Health-Related Research
• Land (Including Soils) and Legacy Lead Pollution Research

Air Research

• Jesus Eulisis, C., M. Gonzalez-Chavez, R. Carrillo-Gonzalez, K. Scheckel, D. Tapia Maruri, AND J. Garcia Cue (2021). Metal(loid) bioaccessibility of atmospheric particulate matter from mine tailings at Zimapan, Mexico. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28:19458-19472.
• Xing, W., H. Yang, J. Ippolito, Q. Zhao, Y. Zhang, Kirk G. Scheckel, AND L. Li (2020). Atmospheric deposition of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc near an operating and an abandoned lead smelter. Journal of Environmental Quality, 49(6):1667-1678.
• Xing, W., H. Yang, J. Ippolito, Y. Zhang, K. Scheckel, AND L. Li (2020). Lead source and bioaccessibility in windowsill dusts within a Pb smelting-affected area. Environmental Pollution, 266(2):115110.
• Aurell, J., A. Holder, B. Gullett, K. McNesby, AND J. Weinstein (2019). Characterization of M4 Carbine Rifle Emissions With Three Ammunition Types. Environmental Pollution, 254(A):112982.
• Kastury, F., Smith, E., Karna, R. R., Scheckel, K. G., & Juhasz, A. L. (2018). Methodological factors influencing inhalation bioaccessibility of metal (loid)s in PM2. 5 using simulated lung fluid. Environmental Pollution, 241, 930-937. 

Drinking Water Research

• Dore, E., C. Formal, C. Muhlen, D. Williams, S. Harmon, M. Pham, S. Triantafyllidou, AND D. Lytle. Effectiveness of point-of-use and pitcher filters at removing lead phosphate nanoparticles from drinking water. WATER RESEARCH. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 201:117285, (2021)
• Bosscher, V., Lytle, D. A., Schock, M. R., Porter, A., & Del Toral, M. (2019). POU water filters effectively reduce lead in drinking water: a demonstration field study in flint, Michigan. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 54(5), 484-493. 
• Hensley, K., V. Bosscher, S. Triantafyllidou, AND D. Lytle (2021). Lead service line identification: A review of strategies and approaches. AWWA Water Science, 3(3):e1226, (2021). 
• Triantafyllidou, S., J. Burkhardt, J. Tully, K. Cahalan, Mike DeSantis, D. Lytle, AND M. Schock (2021). Variability and sampling of lead (Pb) in drinking water: Assessing potential human exposure depends on the sampling protocol. Environment International, 146:106259. 
• Lytle, D., C. Formal, K. Cahalan, C. Muhlen, AND S. Triantafyllidou (2021). The Impact of Sampling Approach and Daily Water Usage on Lead Levels Measured at the Tap. Water Research, 197:117071.
• Lytle, D., M. Schock, C. Formal, C. Bennett-Stamper, S. Harmon, M. Nadagouda, D. Williams, Mike DeSantis, J. Tully, AND M. Pham (2020). Lead Particles Size Fractionation and Identification in Newark, New Jersey's Drinking Water. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(21):13672-13679.
• Lytle, D. A., Formal, C., Doré, E., Muhlen, C., Harmon, S., Williams, D., Triantafyllidou, S., & Pham, M. (2020). Synthesis and characterization of stable lead (II) orthophosphate nanoparticle suspensions. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 55(13), 1504-1512.
• Dore, E., D. Lytle, L. Wasserstrom, J. Swertfeger, AND S. Triantafyllidou (2020). Field Analyzers for Lead Quantification in Drinking Water Samples. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 50(20):1-31.
• Stanek, L., J. Xue, C. Lay, E. Helm, T. Speth, D. Lytle, M. Schock, AND V. Zartarian (2020). Modeled Impacts of Drinking Water Pb Reduction Scenarios on Children’s Exposures and Blood Lead Levels. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(15):9474-9482.
• Muhlen, C., L. Voutsikakis, R. Murray, AND J. Tully (2020). Technical Support Summary, Water Infrastructure Division, Fiscal Year 2019. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/600/R-20/328.
• Burkhardt, JB, Woo, H, Mason, J, Shang, F, Triantafyllidou, S, Schock, MR, Lytle, D, Murray, R (2020). Framework for Modeling Lead in Premise Plumbing Systems Using EPANET. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. Journal of Water Resources Management, 146(12):04020094
• Lytle, D. A., Schock, M. R., Wait, K., Cahalan, K., Bosscher, V., Porter, A., & Del Toral, M. (2019). Sequential drinking water sampling as a tool for evaluating lead in Flint, Michigan. Water Research, 157, 40-54.
• DeSantis, Mike, M. Schock, J. Tully, AND C. Bennett-Stamper (2020). Orthophosphate Interactions with Destabilized PbO2 Scales. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(22):14302–14311.
• Tully, J., DeSantis, M. K., & Schock, M. R. (2019). Water quality–pipe deposit relationships in Midwestern lead pipes. AWWA Water Science, 1(2), e1127. 
• Williams, D. J., Parrett, C. J., Schock, M. R., Muhlen, C., Donnelly, P., & Lytle, D. A. (2018). Design and Testing of USEPA'S Flint Pipe Rig for Corrosion Control Evaluation. Journal‐American Water Works Association, 110(10), E16-E37. 
• DeSantis, M. K., Triantafyllidou, S., Schock, M. R., & Lytle, D. A. (2018). Mineralogical evidence of galvanic corrosion in drinking water lead pipe joints. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(6), 3365-3374.

Health-Related Research

• Breysse, PN., Cascio, WE., Geller, AM., Choiniere, CJ, Ammon, M. (2022).  Targeting coordinated federal efforts to address persistent hazardous exposures to lead.  American Journal of Public Health 112, no. S7 (September 1, 2022): pp. S640-S646. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306972

• Zartarian, V., A. Poulakos, V. Helms Garrison, N. Spalt, R. Tornero-Velez, J. Xue, K. Egan, AND J. Courtney (2022). Lead Data Mapping to Prioritize US Locations for Whole-of-Government Exposure Prevention Efforts: State of the Science, Federal Collaborations, and Remaining Challenges. American Journal of Public Health. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, 112(S7):S658-S669. 
• Xue, J., Zartarian, V., Tornero-Velez, R., Stanek, L. W., Poulakos, A., Walts, A., ... & Grokhowsky, N. (2022). A generalizable evaluated approach, applying advanced geospatial statistical methods, to identify high lead exposure locations at census tract scale: Michigan case study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 130(7), 077004.
• Tedla, G., Ann Jarabek, P. Byrley, W. Boyes, AND K. Rogers (2022). Human exposure to metals in consumer-focused fused filament fabrication (FFF)/ 3D printing processes. Science of the Total Environment, 814:152622.
• Sowers, T., S. Bone, Matthew Noerpel, M. Blackmon, R. Karna, K. Scheckel, A. Juhasz, G. Diamond, D. Thomas, AND K. Bradham (2021). Plumbojarosite Remediation of Soil Affects Lead Speciation and Elemental Interactions in Soil and in Mice Tissues. Environmental Science & Technology, 55(23):15950-15960, (2021).
• Kastury, F., W. Tang, C. Herde, Matt R. Noerpel, Kirk G. Scheckel, AND A. Juhasz (2021). Plumbojarosite formation in contaminated soil to mitigate childhood exposure to lead, arsenic and antimony. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 418:126312.
• Nilsen, F. AND N. Tulve (2020). A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the interrelationships between chemical and non-chemical stressors and inherent characteristics in children with ADHD. Environmental Research, 180:108884.
• Stanek, L., J. Xue, C. Lay, E. Helm, T. Speth, D. Lytle, M. Schock, AND V. Zartarian (2020). Modeled Impacts of Drinking Water Pb Reduction Scenarios on Children’s Exposures and Blood Lead Levels. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(15):9474-9482.
• Zartarian V., Xue J., Tornero-Velez R., Brown J. (2017). Children’s Lead Exposure: A Multimedia Modeling Analysis to Guide Public Health Decision-Making. Environmental Health Perspectives (Online), 125(9). 
• Diamond, G. L., Thayer, W. C., Brown, J. S., Burgess, M., Follansbee, M. H., Gaines, L. G., & Klotzbach, J. M. (2019). Estimates of urinary blood lead clearance and its relationship to glomerular filtration rate based on a large population survey. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 82(5), 379-382. 
• Kastury, F., S. Placitu, J. Boland, R. Karna, Kirk G. Scheckel, E. Smith, AND A. Juhasz (2019). Relationship between Pb relative bioavailability and bioaccessibility in phosphate amended soil: Uncertainty associated with predicting Pb immobilization efficacy using in vitro assays. Environment International, 131:104967.
• Frank, J., A. Poulakos, R. Tornero-Velez, AND J. Xue (2019). Systematic review and meta-analyses of lead (Pb) concentrations in environmental media (soil, dust, water, food, and air) reported in the United States from 1996 to 2016. Science of the Total Environment, 694:133489.
• Kastury, F., Smith, E., Doelsch, E., Lombi, E., Donnelley, M., Cmielewski, P. L., ... & Herde, C. (2019). In Vitro, in Vivo, and Spectroscopic Assessment of Lead Exposure Reduction via Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways Using Phosphate and Iron Amendments. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(17), 10329-10341. 
• Kastury, F., Smith, E., Lombi, E., Donnelley, M. W., Cmielewski, P. L., Parsons, D. W., ... & Paterson, D. (2019). Dynamics of lead bioavailability and speciation in indoor dust and x-ray spectroscopic investigation of the link between ingestion and inhalation pathways. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(19), 11486-11495. 
• Kastury, F., Smith, E., Karna, R. R., Scheckel, K. G., & Juhasz, A. L. (2018). Methodological factors influencing inhalation bioaccessibility of metal (loid) s in PM2. 5 using simulated lung fluid. Environmental Pollution, 241, 930-937. 

Land (Including Soils) and Legacy Lead Pollution Research

(Note: includes publications of site characterization and remediation involving soil, air/inhalation, and bioaccessibility)

• Wallace, A., C. Su, M. Sexton, AND W. Sun (2022). Evaluation of the Immobilization of Coexisting Heavy Metal Ions of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ from Water by Dairy Manure-Derived Biochar: Performance and Reusability. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 148(6):04022021, (2022).
• Plunkett, S., C. Eckley, T. Luxton, AND M. Johnson (2022). The effects of biochar and redox conditions on soil Pb bioaccessibility to people and waterfowl. Chemosphere, 294:133675, (2022).
• Bradham, K., C. Nelson, G. Diamond, W. Thayer, Kirk G. Scheckel, Matthew Noerpel, K. Herbin-Davis, B. Elek, AND D. Thomas (2019). Dietary Lead and Phosphate Interactions Affect Oral Bioavailability of Soil Lead in the Mouse. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(21):12556-12564.
• Bradham, K. D., Diamond, G. L., Nelson, C. M., Noerpel, M., Scheckel, K. G., Elek, B., Chaney, R.L., Ma, Q., & Thomas, D. J. (2018). Long-term in situ reduction in soil lead bioavailability measured in a mouse model. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(23), 13908-13913. 
• Frank, J. J., Poulakos, A. G., Tornero-Velez, R., & Xue, J. (2019). Systematic review and meta-analyses of lead (Pb) concentrations in environmental media (soil, dust, water, food, and air) reported in the United States from 1996 to 2016. Science of The Total Environment. 
• Kastury, F., Smith, E., Doelsch, E., Lombi, E., Donnelley, M., Cmielewski, P. L., Parsons, D.W., Scheckel, K.G., Patterson, D., de Jonge, M.D.,  Herde, C., and Juhasz, A.L. (2019). In Vitro, in Vivo, and Spectroscopic Assessment of Lead Exposure Reduction via Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways Using Phosphate and Iron Amendments. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(17), 10329-10341. 
• Kastury, F., E. Smith, E. Lombi, M. Donnelley, P. Cmielewski, D. Parsons, M. Noerpel, Kirk G. Scheckel, A. Kingston, G. Myers, D. Paterson, M. de Jonge, AND A. Juhasz (2019). Dynamics of Lead Bioavailability and Speciation in Indoor Dust and X-ray Spectroscopic Investigation of the Link between Ingestion and Inhalation Pathways. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(19):11486-11495.
• Kastury, F., Placitu, S., Boland, J., Karna, R. R., Scheckel, K. G., Smith, E., & Juhasz, A. L. (2019). Relationship between Pb relative bioavailability and bioaccessibility in phosphate amended soil: Uncertainty associated with predicting Pb immobilization efficacy using in vitro assays. Environment International, 131, 104967. 
• Kastury, F., Smith, E., Karna, R. R., Scheckel, K. G., & Juhasz, A. L. (2018). Methodological factors influencing inhalation bioaccessibility of metal (loid) s in PM2. 5 using simulated lung fluid. Environmental Pollution, 241, 930-937. 
• Karna, R. R., Noerpel, M. R., Luxton, T. P., & Scheckel, K. G. (2018). Point of zero charge: role in pyromorphite formation and bioaccessibility of lead and arsenic in phosphate-amended soils. Soil systems, 2(2), 22.
• Xing, W., Zheng, Y., Scheckel, K. G., Luo, Y., & Li, L. (2019). Spatial distribution of smelter emission heavy metals on farmland soil. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191(2), 115. 
• Xing, W., Cao, E., Scheckel, K. G., Bai, X., & Li, L. (2018). Influence of phosphate amendment and zinc foliar application on heavy metal accumulation in wheat and on soil extractability impacted by a lead smelter near Jiyuan, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(31), 31396-31406. 
• George, S. E., & Wan, Y. (2016). Advances in characterizing microbial community change and resistance upon exposure to lead contamination: Implications for ecological risk assessment. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 1-48.