Anthropogenic lead still present in European shelf seas. Over many decades lead (Pb) has been released into the atmosphere due to human activities, such as combustion of leaded fuel. Researchers have now been able to show that following the phase-out of leaded gasoline in Europe over the last decades, there has been a 4-fold reduction in Pb concentrations in the European shelf seas. Nevertheless, the legacy of the historical global Pb pollution is still evident. Source 2l.