Study finds topsoil is key harbinger of lead exposure risks for children. sciencedaily.com. October 14, 2019. Summary: Tracking lead levels in soil over time is critical for cities to determine lead contamination risks for their youngest and most vulnerable residents, according to a new study.Tracking lead levels in soil over time is critical for cities […]
Neurotoxin lead sometimes added to turmeric for brighter color. sciencedaily.com. September 24, 2019- Summary: Some spice processors in Bangladesh use an industrial lead chromate pigment to imbue turmeric with a bright yellow color prized for curries and other traditional dishes, elevating blood lead levels in Bangladeshis. Curcuma en polvo (Sertox) It’s billed as a health […]
Higher lead in topsoil boosts probability of cognitive difficulties in 5-year-old boys. sciencedaily.com. April 10, 2019. Summary: Researchers sought to estimate the effects of exposure to lead in topsoil on the cognitive ability of 5-year-olds in the United States. Niños/kids (Sertox) The study found that higher lead in topsoil significantly increases the probability that 5-year-old […]
Earliest European evidence of lead pollution uncovered in the Balkans. sciencedaily.com. June 01, 2018. Metal-related pollution began in the Balkans more than 500 years before it appeared in western Europe. Summary: New research has revealed that metal-related pollution began in the Balkans more than 500 years before it appeared in western Europe, and persisted throughout […]
Historical lead exposure may be linked to 256,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease in adults in United States each year. sciencedaily.com. March 12, 2018. Summary: New estimates suggest that 256,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease — including 18,5000 deaths from ischemic heart disease — in the United States may be linked to historical lead exposure […]
No Link Between Childhood Lead Levels, Later Criminality. By Alan Mozes. medlineplus.gov. December 27, 2017. Exposure to higher levels of lead during early childhood can affect neurological development — but does that mean affected kids are doomed to delinquency? No, according to a new study that tracked the lives of hundreds of New Zealand children […]
Some Mexican Ceramics Can Serve Up Lead Poisoning. medlineplus.gov. October 20, 2016. Canadian woman’s illness highlights danger from glazes with high lead levels, doctors say. A charming ceramic reminder of a Mexican vacation could end up giving you lead poisoning, a new study warns. Exposure to high concentrations of lead — often found in glazes […]
Chicago parks shut off many drinking fountains after tests find lead. By Michael Hawthorne. chicagotribune.com. October 19, 2016. Long before the first winter frost, hundreds of drinking fountains in Chicago parks have been shut off after testing revealed high levels of brain-damaging lead in the water. Chicago Park District officials said Tuesday they decided to […]
Severe lead poisoning in children: Causes and risk factors. sciencedaily.com. October 19, 2016. Summary:Although national and local policies have reduced the prevalence of lead poisoning in the United States, severe cases still occur. Whereas, exposures at blood lead levels (BLLs) as low as 5 µg/dL have been associated with long-term irreversible cognitive deficits, more severe […]
Coffee-infused foam removes lead from contaminated water. sciencedaily.com. September 21, 2016. Summary:Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the U.S., which makes for a perky population — but it also creates a lot of used grounds. Scientists now report an innovative way to reduce this waste and help address another environmental problem. They […]
Using urban pigeons to monitor lead pollution. eurekalert.org. July 19, 2016. Tom Lehrer sang about poisoning them, but those pigeons in the park might be a good way to detect lead and other toxic compounds in cities. A new study of pigeons in New York City shows that levels of lead in the birds track […]
No Amount of Lead Is Safe for Kids. By Robert Preidt. nlm.nih.gov. June 20, 2016. American Academy of Pediatrics calls for stronger regulations and new laws to protect children. No amount of lead exposure is safe for children, and stricter regulations are needed to protect youngsters from this serious health threat, the American Academy of […]
In wake of Flint crisis, new proposal seeks to ‘focus on the fix’ for lead poisoning. sciencedaily.com. May 27, 2016.Leading expert outlines three-point plan to eliminate lead. The crisis of lead-contaminated drinking water in Flint, Michigan continues to make headlines, but it’s just the most prominent example of an ‘ongoing and needless tragedy of childhood […]
Risk of lead poisoning from urban gardening is low, new study finds. eurekalert.org. February 02, 2016. Using compost is the single best thing you can do to protect your family from any danger associated with lead in urban soils. Good compost will also guarantee that you will have plenty of vegetables to harvest. That’s the […]
Toxicological Trivia of October 28, 2015: An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.[ Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environments. They are subject both to marine influences—such as […]
Elevated Blood Lead Levels Among Employed Adults — United States, 1994–2012. By Walter A. Alarcon (State Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) Program investigators) .cdc.gov. October 23, 2015 / 62(54);52-75. Preface: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and state health departments collect data on laboratory-reported adult blood lead levels (BLLs). This […]
Being rich in the Middle Ages led to an unhealthy life. sciencedaily.com. October 20, 2015.Summary: In the Middle Ages only wealthy town people could afford to eat and drink from beautiful, colored glazed cups and plates. But the glazing was made of lead, which found its way into the body if you ate acidic foods. […]
Doctor warns about lead poisoning risk from recycling older electronic equipment. sciencedaily.com. July 28, 2015.Summary: The disposal and recycling of electronic devices has increased exposure to lead and other toxicants and created ‘an emerging health concern,’ according to a pediatrician who has expertise in the area.In a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by […]
Lead linked to obesity in mice exposed by mothers. sciencedaily.com. August 8, 2014.Summary:When we think of ill effects from lead exposure various neurologic problems usually come to mind. Now researchers say another health impact can be added to the list: obesity. Even at low levels, lead is associated with obesity in mice whose mothers were […]
Lead Pollution Beat Explorers to South Pole, Persists Today.nasa.gov. July 28, 2014.Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole in December 1911. More than 100 years later, an international team of scientists that includes a NASA researcher has proven that air pollution from industrial activities arrived to the planet’s southern […]
Toxicological trivia from March 27, 2014:"If we were to judge the interest in any medical issue by the number of papers that have caused, we could say that … poisoning is the most important issue of all known that have been considered until today." Orfila, 1817 What metal meant Orfila? a) Lead; b) Mercury; c) Cadmium. Mateu Josep Bonaventura […]
Lead poisoning and health. Fact sheet N°379. who.int. September 2013.Key factsLead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.Childhood lead exposure is estimated to contribute to about 600 000 new cases of children developing intellectual disabilities every year.Lead exposure is estimated to account for 143 000 deaths […]
Toxicological trivia from August 28, 2013: Testing hair from Asian monkeys living close to people may provide early warnings of toxic threats to humans and wildlife, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology in 2010. In parts of South and Southeast Asia, macaques and people are synanthropic, which means […]
Lead Exposure Tied to Early Risk of School Suspension. Kids’ attention levels and behavior may be affected, study suggests. By Robert Preidt. nlm.nih.gov. August 20, 2013. By the time they reach the fourth grade, children exposed to lead are nearly three times more likely to have been suspended, a new study contends.The findings from nearly […]