31.12.82 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 378/15 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 3 December 1982 on a limit value for lead in the air (82/884/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro- pean Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commis- sion (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having fegard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas one of the essential tasks of the European Economic Community is to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of econo- mic activities and a continuous and balanced expansion, which cannot be imagined in the absence of a campaign to combat pollution and nuisances or of an improvement in the quality of life and the protection of the environment; Whereas the use of lead is currently causing lead contamination of many areas of the environment; Whereas inhaled lead contributes significantly to the total body burden of lead; Whereas the protection of human health against the hazards of lead requires that the individual’s expo- sure to lead in the air be monitored; Whereas the first () and second (5) programme of action of the European Communities on the envi- ronment state that this pollutant should receive priority consideration; whereas the said programmes provide for the coordination of national pro-: grammes in this field and for the harmonization of national policies within the Community on the basis () OJ NoC 154,7.7.1975, p. 29. () 0J NoC 28,9.2. 1976, p. 31. () OJ No C 50, 4.3.1976, p. 9. () OJ NoC 112,20. 12. 1973, p. . () OJ NoC 139, 13.6. 1977, p. 1. of a common long-term plan aiming at improving the quality of life; whereas since the specific powers of action required to this end have not been pro- vided for in the Treaty, it is necessary to invoke Article 235 thereof; Whereas insufficient technical and scientific infor- mation is available to enable the Council to lay down specific standards for the environment gener- ally; whereas the adoption of limit values for the protection of human health will contribute to the protection of the environment as well; Whereas it is desirable to fix a limit value for lead in the air; Whereas the measures taken pursuant to this Direc- tive must be economically feasible and compatible with balanced development; whereas in conse- quence a sufficient time limit should be laid down for its implementation; whereas account should also be taken of the provisions of Council Directive 78/ 611/EEC of 29 June 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the lead content of petrol (9); Whereas it is desirable to monitor the quality of the air in places where people may be exposed contin- uously and for a long period and where there is a risk that the limit value may not be observed; Whereas it is important that the Commission should obtain information concerning the sites used for sampling, the sampling and analysis procedures used to determine the concentration of lead in the air, the places where the limit value laid down in the Directive has been exceeded and the concentrations measured in these places as well as the measures taken to avoid a repetition of the occurrence; Whereas each year as from the second year after the implementation of this Directive the Commission should publish a summary report on the implemen- (&) OJ No L 197, 22. 7. 1978, p. 19.