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Sources of airborne lead in the United States have included mines such as one that used to operate near Picher, Okla. This sign reminds residents of lead hazards from the mine, which is now a Superfund site.

WASHINGTON - Faced with a court order to set a new standard, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced it would order industry to slash the amount of lead allowed in the nation's air by 90 percent.

The new limit — 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter — is the first update to the lead standard since 1978, when leaded gasoline was phased out. That is 10 times lower than the previous standard, which was 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

Stephen Johnson, the EPA administrator, said Thursday. "Thanks to this stronger standard, EPA will protect my children from remaining sources of airborne lead."

The new standard will require that the 16,000 remaining sources of lead — including smelters, metal mines, and waste incinerators — to slash their emissions.