Lead is considered to be a toxic heavy metal. It occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust. However, it tends to combine with other elements to form lead compounds. (Registry, 2011). Moreover, it has no known function in the body and with excess accumulation, either acute or chronic, will cause a wide array of metabolic dysfunctions by interfering with normal metabolic functions (Analytical Research Laboratories, 2012). From a historical standpoint, most human beings if not all have accumulated some lead in their bodies over the course of their daily lives. In extreme cases, that is, when there is too much lead in the body it is known to cause lead poisoning. In order to fully understand this phenomenon, one must first acknowledge; how lead enters the body, how it is distributed, and how and if it is eliminated. There are many contributing factors that enhance the amount of lead in the environment, for instance, environmental lead occurs from the burning of leaded gasoline, from battery and smelter industries and it’s also found in ink and paper. Additionally, many canned food products are sealed with lead solder (Analytical Research Laboratories, 2012). Due to the vast quantity of lead found in the environment, exposure is inevitable. On the contrary, there are three main ways in which lead can enter the body: inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin. It may be inhaled when it is burned or melted, releasing some of the lead as a fume and or when dust that contains lead becomes airborne. In terms of ingestion, lead may be ingested through drinking water, when dust particles containing lead come in contact with food or food preparation surfaces, etc. In particular cases that inv... ... middle of paper ... ...te in the bone, with a half-life of years to decades (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Hence, individuals who are exposed to lead for long period of time will have high levels of lead present in there bone as compared to their blood and soft tissues. In continuation, the lead that is not accumulate in the bone if secreted via the urine, approximately 70% of the time. Whereas to a lesser extent elimination also occurs via feces, sweat, hair and nails. (Leggett et al. 1993). Nevertheless, this paper will focus on the comparing two significantly different ingestion rate of lead in the body (blood, soft tissue and bone) from a mathematically standpoint. In other words to proceed with the comparison a variety of time intervals (both short and long time) will be taken into consideration to graphically illustrate the accumulation of lead in the body.
This is why the Flint water crisis is so critical today. Because young children are being exposed to lead and they should actually be screened from the lead. The pipelines with lead in the water system and the whole community of Flint, not being able to drink water out of the facet as well as not being able to
The novel Crispin: The Cross of Lead, written by Avi, is a medieval tale that intertwines drama and action with an underlying theme of the intersection of fate and social status. The book is set in England in 1377, during Europe’s dark ages, and its protagonist is a peasant boy on a feudal manor. Social structure during this time was very rigid, and Avi uses it as both context and a theme. Crispin, as a serf bound to his lord’s land, is at the bottom of the hierarchy. But as he grows and becomes more independent, Crispin discovers that he can transcend the social boundaries that precluded his freedom for so long.
Lead is a metal found virtually everywhere even today. Sources of lead include auto body shops, electric storage batteries, glazes for china dishes, crockery, insecticides, electric cable insulation, hose, pipe, sheet and floor coverings. Lead is associated with stain glass work, jewelry making and antique ceramic doll painting. Although lead in paint was outlawed, there are still many homes that have lead paint (White et al, 1990). Lead found in gasoline was found in one study to account for 23--27% of the lead blood levels in the people tested (Wagner, 1991). This exposure to lead sources is more of a concern for children due to the characteristic habit of children to taste everything they touch; this characteristic is known as pica. Children are also in closer contact with their lead polluted environment during play. They are more active and exposed to outdoor contaminates and they inhale dust and dirt that are lead contaminated. Furthermore, the adsorption rate of lead in the digestive tract is up to 10 times greater in chil...
Question: In considering the monetary estimates of childhood lead poisoning prevention, list and note the relative importance of the categories of costs and benefits that need to be considered is projecting a cost/benefit ratio. Use a standard housing remediation approach for those expenses. Where does the balance lay? What are the options and barriers to moving it forward?General Effects of Childhood Lead Poisoning When lead in inhaled it, the lead could be deposited in the bones where some essential body function occurs e.g. blood formations, calcium absorption. Lead is also transported in blood stream and deposited in muscle and nerves and blood vessels. The deposition of lead in these organs systems eventually results in the malfunctioning of these organs. These malfunctions could include decrease in bone and muscle growth/co-ordination, damage to the nervous system and other organs of the body. (KidsHealth, 1995-2010) The above mentioned effects could also impair breakdown and use of nutrients by the body, decreased hearing ability. In addition, it affects child growth, in the sense that it has been shown that children with higher blood lead levels may on average be shorter than their genetic potential by 1cm.Effect of Lead on cognition and Behavior of Children: Lead poisoning have been identified as one of the factors responsible for cognitive deficits and mental illness among children. There has been shown a correlation between Blood Lead Level and cognitive functioning in children and infant (Bruce P. Lanphear, 2005). Bruce P et al in a study of Low-level environmental lead exposure and children's intellectual function, showed an inverse relationship between blood lead concentrations and IQ score...
When lead enters the environment, it starts to become a problem. After a period of about ten days, depending on the weather, it falls to the surface. Here lead builds up in the soil particles. Where it may make its way into underground water or drinking water due to the fact the grounds acidic or if it's soft enough. Either way it stays a long time on the soil or in water. Months or years down the road after the lead has built up it starts to become a problem for children that play outside of their homes . This lead containing soil particles get on the child's hands or clothing and end up in the child's mouth. After the build up of so much lead it leads to lead poison. Lead poisoning has been an issue since the early 1900s, when the use of lead started being banned from the manufacturing of paint in foreign countries such as Australia. Unfortunately, the United States did not start banning it until 1978, when it finally became illegal in our nation. Today 90% of the lead in the atmosphere comes from the burning of gasoline. This problem has been a large issue since the 1920s, when the Environmental Protection Agency started making laws on the amount of lead allowed in gasoline.
Breast cancer is the second leading cancer to cause death in women. A combination of factors contributes to the etiology of breast cancer, such as genetic and environmental dynamics [ACS, 2014]. One particular area of interest is the study of metalloestrogens, which are inorganic compounds that can bind to the estrogen receptor and mimic the biological functions of estrogen in breast cancer cells. Arsenic is one such metalloestrogen and has been classified as carcinogenic to humans [IARC]. Studies in humans have shown that long-term exposure to arsenic is associated with bladder, kidney, lung and liver cancers [1,2,3]. Arsenic exposure has also been correlated with an increase in the incidence of breast cancer [4]. People can be exposed to arsenic in different settings such as in the workplace, in drinking water or from medical treatments. Through these methods of exposure, various mechanisms of internalization can take place through inhalation, ingestion, or through skin contact. We hypothesize that prolonged arsenic exposure results in the expression of genes that promote breast cancer progression. In this study, we propose to investigate the effect of prolonged arsenic exposure on gene expression, by comparing the global gene expression of a breast cancer cell line that has been chronically exposed to low-dose arsenic with that of a control cell line. Genes found to be differentially expressed in arsenic adapted cells will be examined further. We also aim to extend our understanding of the direct effect of arsenic, by studying the signal pathway that results in gene expression when arsenic binds to the estrogen receptor.
There are differences in the primary routes of exposure, Babies and children can swallow lead through breast feeding. They can be exposed to lead in the womb if their mothers have lead in their bodies. In children ingestion is the major route of exposure. Lead paint is the major source. In older houses as the lead paint deteriorates, peels, chips or is...
In conclusion, lead is a very widespread poison that has been intertwined throughout the history of mankind. To prevent poisoning from this toxic substance, foods should be washed prior to cooking of eating. Hands, particularly those of young children, should be washed before meals (Harte et al. 1991). Flaking lead-based paint needs to be removed by a professional; intact lead paint on buildings should be maintained occasionally by painting over using lead-free coatings. Joggers and cyclists should exercise away from traffic and avoid peak driving hours (Harte et al. 1991). As a nation, strides are being made to lower contact with lead on day to day bases. On the other hand, countries around the world need to learn from history’s mistakes on lead usage; otherwise, they are just going to repeat the past.
A huge fascination of arsenic started in the 19th century when people got word of a province in southeastern Austria where people ate arsenic. Women would eat arsenic to help gain weight and fix their complexion to look more beautiful and men would eat arsenic because they believed it helped them breath easier when they were climbing high up in the mountains. One doctor by the name of Dr. Robert Craig MacLagan, was particularly interested in this and visited the town to see for himself what was really occurring. He observed the people and tested their urine to prove that they have been indeed ingesting arsenic. He wrote about the things he witnessed in the Edinburgh Medical Journal. The men in the town would eat 6 grains/dose at least twice a week, sometimes eating it on their bread or just drinking it with their water. As a result many Victorians began self-medicating themselves with arsenic.
Review the effects of arsenic as a soil pollutant on human health. You need to consider the major sources of arsenic (both natural & man-made), pathways for uptake by people and the impacts on human health.
Exposure to lead can be in the form of lead dust ingestion, swallowing of lead paint chips, inhalation of lead contaminated air, and eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with lead (Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, 2014). Also, high concentration of lead in the human’s blood can have adverse effect on one’s health and wellness.
Due to an above average level of poverty, many homes in New Orleans had very high levels of lead and arsenic in them. (Pastor) This combined with eighty percent of the city being flooded, released significant amounts of lead and arsenic into the environment which still exist today. Soil samples taken before and after Katrina showed elevated levels of lead, iron and arsenic. (Reible)A new study on one-hundred and nine households found that sixty-one percent had lead measurements above federal standards with twenty-seven percent greater than one-thousand two hundred ppm which was significantly higher than the five-hundred and sixty ppm collected before Hurricane Katrina. (Rabito) These inorganic compounds are related to cancer risks of which New Orleans already has a significant problem with. This complicates the decision on when and where to conduct environmental clean-ups in New Orleans to remove the lead, iron and arsenic.
Mroszczyk (2012) references that human health effects caused by exposure to toxic substances fall into two categories: short term and long term effects. Short term effects (or acute effects) have a relatively quick onset (usually minutes to days) after brief exposures to relatively high concentrations of material (acute exposures). Goetsch (2011) furthermore states that the effect may be local or systemic. Local effects occur at the site of contact between the toxicant and the body. This site is
Huddie William Ledbetter also known as "Leadbelly" was an American folk singer and blues musical, most famous for his strong prominent vocals and his ability to play thetwelve-string guitar. Leadbellys astounding ability to play the guitar combined with his personal life experiences provided the foundation for his musical career. He also wrote about mainstream culture and black culture in general to express feelings of anger, sadness, and expose the wrongdoings of American society against blacks.
Lead and lead compounds can be highly toxic when eaten or inhaled. Although lead is absorbed very slowly into the body, its rate of excretion is even slower. Thus, with constant exposure, lead accumulates gradually in the body. It is absorbed by the red blood cells and circulated through the body where it becomes concentrated in the soft tissues, especially the liver and kidneys. Lead can cause damage in the central nervous system and apparently can damage the cells making up the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from many harmful chemicals.