No L 105/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.4.77 'COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 29 March 1977 on biological screening of the population for lead (77/312/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Whereas one of the essential tasks of the European Economic Community is to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic ac- tivities and a continuous and balanced expansion, neither of which can be achieved without combating pollution and nuisances and improving the quality of life and the protection of the environment; Whereas the various uses of lead are at present causing contamination of many areas of the environment by this substance; Whereas the many cavironmental sources of lead make it difficult to determine the total exposure of any one indi- vidual to this pollutant and therefore the protection of human health calls for the most accurate possible monitoring of the individual’s total lead absorption; Whereas biological screening of the population for lead should be carried out and the results of this screening evaluated so that, where appropriate, new proposals may be drawn up; () O] No C 28, 9.2. 1976, p. 31. {8 O] No C 50, 4.3.1976, p. 9. Whereas it is desirable to lay down the technical proce- dures and biological reference levels for such screening; Whereas measurement of blood lead level is currently the best means of assessing the quantity of lead recently re- ceived by an individual as a result of exposure to environ- mental lead; whereas the enzymatic activity of delta- aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) may be used as an indicative or supplementary test for determining expo- sure to lead; Whereas the programme of action of the European Com- munities on the environment (3) provides for the coordi- nation of national programmes having as their aim the improvement of the quality of life and for priority investi- gation into lead, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 The Member States shall take the necessary steps to apply a common procedure for biological screening in order to assess the exposure of the population to lead outside the working environment. ) Article 2 This common procedure, the application of which shall be restricted to four years, shall be based on the measurement of blood lead levels. As an indicative or supplementary test, the ALAD mea- surement may also be used in accordance with the proce- dures laid down in Annexes II and III. () 0JNo C 112, 20. 12. 1973, p. 3.