Toxic Metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium — heavy metals with no safe dose.
Toxic Chemical Databases
Where this family lands across the seven independent toxicology authorities we screen against.
Chemical Type
Heavy-Metal & Metalloid Class
Chemical Description
The toxic-metals group is the oldest known cluster of construction hazards. Lead in pre-1978 paint and older plumbing solder is the textbook example. Arsenic was the workhorse of pressure-treated wood (CCA) until 2003 in residential use. Cadmium and hexavalent chromium stabilized red and yellow pigments in older PVC and powder-coat finishes. Mercury appears in fluorescent lamp ballasts, thermostats, and some demolition-era flooring. Heavy metals are persistent — they don't biodegrade, they accumulate in bone and soft tissue, and they compete with the body's natural enzymes for binding sites. Children are especially vulnerable: even very low blood-lead levels cause measurable cognitive deficits. EBH treats any pre-1978 paint, pre-2003 pressure-treated wood, and any reclaimed industrial material as suspect until tested, and we follow RRP-certified containment for all demolition involving these materials.
Chemical Structure
Molecular schematic for Toxic Metals — formula and structural features shown below.
Biological Activity
Severity scores summarize hazard endpoints from IARC, NTP, EPA IRIS, ATSDR, and NIOSH on a 0–10 scale. Mirrors the system-level output of our SDS Toxic Chemical Screener.
Chemical Analogs and Brand Names
- Lead — CAS 7439-92-1
- Arsenic — CAS 7440-38-2
- Cadmium — CAS 7440-43-9
- Mercury — CAS 7439-97-6
- Hexavalent Chromium — CAS 18540-29-9
- Organotin Compounds (incl. Dibutyltin Dilaurate) — CAS 77-58-7
- C
Top Health Consequences
- Lead — irreversible neurodevelopmental deficits, no safe blood level for children
- Arsenic — bladder, lung, and skin cancer; cardiovascular disease
- Cadmium — kidney damage, bone demineralization, lung cancer
- Mercury — central nervous system and developmental toxicity
- Hexavalent chromium — lung cancer, severe skin sensitization
Pathways of Exposure
- Inhalation of dust during demolition or renovation of pre-1978 paint
- Drinking water leaching from lead service lines and soldered joints
- Skin contact with CCA-treated wood (decks, playsets, raised beds)
- Soil ingestion in legacy-industrial neighborhoods (especially for children)
- Fluorescent lamp breakage indoors (mercury vapor release)
Substances in this Family
Each substance below has its own profile page with its own database flags, biological-activity scores, and exposure pathways — they are NOT interchangeable.
Building Materials with Toxic Metals
Listed alphabetically. These are the product categories where this chemistry most often shows up — not an exhaustive list.
Brass Plumbing Fittings (Pre-2014)
CCA Pressure-Treated Wood (Pre-2003)
Chromate-Treated Galvanized Sheet Metal
Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts (Mercury)
Glazed Tile & Ceramic Pigments (Cadmium)
Lead Flashing & Radiation Shielding
Lead Paint (Pre-1978 Repaints)
Lead Solder Joints (Pre-1986 Plumbing)
Pigmented Powder-Coat Metal Finishes
Solder & Roofing Flashing (Lead)