Airborne lead typically has been associated with automobile tailpipe emissions and lead smelters. Lead in gasoline has been phased out nationwide over the past 20 years, particularly during the mid and late 1980s. As a result, automobile emissions are no longer recognized as a source of lead. The last operating lead smelter in PSAPCA's jurisdiction was on Harbor Island. The facility ceased smelting operations in the mid 1980s, but it still produces some lead products. Our only remaining lead air monitoring site measures the lead content of windÐblown dust from this facility.
    Trends. The freeway monitoring site at 5701 8th Ave NE showed dramatic decreases in monitored lead levels between 1979 and 1994. In 1979, the national standard was exceeded by 16%, but by 1994 monitored values were only 2% of the standard and monitoring was discontinued. There were no measured exceedances at this site after 1979. The Harbor Island lead levels also dropped dramatically during the 1980s with the end of smelting operations. The last measured standard exceedance at the Harbor Island site was in 1983.

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Monthly Arithmetic Averages

Quarterly Arithmetic Averages

Average 24-hour Values