Is Lead sheath of Cables banned due to lead hazard?

The use of lead especially for underground cables is banned due to environmental issues.

Lead in the environment and its effects on the health of people is a matter of great concern to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

In a report to Congress, The Nature and Extent of Lead Poisoning in Children in the United States, published by ATSDR in July 1988, exposure to lead was identified as a serious public health problem. Soil is contaminated by lead from various sources (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1987). The accumulation of lead in soil is primarily a function of the rate of deposition.

Studies on the effects of lead in children have demonstrated a relationship between exposure to lead and a variety of adverse health effects. These effects include impaired mental and physical development, decreased heme biOSynthesis, elevated hearing threshold, and decreased serum levels of vitamin D