What Is Lead Piping?

The lead in the environment is formed naturally in the earth’s crust mainly as Lead Sulphide. The main exposure channels of lead entering the environment through atmospheric lead is predominantly from automobile emissions. Other lead exposure routes include lead-acid batteries, paint chips, fertilizers, utilized ammunition, pesticides, and other industrial byproducts. The means of conveying lead from key emission sources is mainly through the air. Concerning the sources of lead in drinking water, normally lead reaches into the residents’ water after it is channeled from their water treatment plant or the wells. To be more precise, the source of lead in people’s water supply largely emanates from their households’ pipes or lead solder from plumbing. The most typical cause of the lead formation is from the corrosion reaction by the lead pipes or solders and the water. The acidity as a result of the low pH, dissolved oxygen, and little mineral contents in the water are main reasons of the corrosion. The lead amounts in the water become high if the water spends a long duration of time stagnated inside the old pipes.

While the prevalence of lead poisoning in children is decreasing in the United States, screening of lead levels remains an important task of the pediatric primary care provider. Risk factors for lead poisoning and its toxic effects include children under six years (and especially those between 12 and 36 months), inner city children living in deteriorating housing, low-income and middle-income children, and refugee and foster care children (Hurwitz & Lee, 2013a). The importance of this screening is underscored by the fact that children can be asymptomatic even with high blood lead levels (BLL) and symptoms of lead toxicity can be non-specific. Early diagnosis is crucial because there are significant and permanent effects to almost all body systems with both toxic and below toxic BLL, including neurologic (ranging from developmental delay and behavior problems to encephalopathy), hematologic (anemia), renal (lead nephropathy), gastrointestinal (lead colic), and endocrine (vitamin D deficiency) (Hurwitz & Lee, 2013a). Laboratory evaluation of lead poisoning in children will now be discussed.

Similarly, in the article, The Need for Vigilance: the Persistence of Lead Poisoning in Children published in Pediatrics, a peer-review journal, the authors write the article with the intent of reiterating the need for medical professionals to remain vigilant with the accurate treatment of lead poisoning. The article in Pediatrics is written by doctors for clinical professionals and is based upon a report of "a case of lead poisoning associated with ingestion of a toy necklace in a 4-year-old child" (Florin, T., Brent, R., &

The major sources of lead here were gasoline, paint chips and water from old plumbing. After lead was removed from gasoline and paint, blood lead levels (BLL) in children decreased on average from 16 mcg/dL to less than 3 mcg/dL. Residual lead persists in the environment, however. A toxic level is currently defined as 5 mcg/dL. In U.S. children age 1-5, the prevalence of BLLs >10 mcg/dL decreased from 88% to 4.4% between 1976 and 1994 and further dropped to 0.8% by 2010. Yet there are still almost half a million children in the U.S. with levels >5

Everyone is susceptible to the dangers of lead contamination; but children are especially at risk. High levels of lead in children can lead to brain and kidney damage and damage to red blood cells. Low levels of lead can also cause problems that are less life-threatening but can be just as devastating, like low IQ, hearing and language impairment, reduced attention span and poor school performance. In adults, exposure to lead can lead to an increased risk for high blood pressure. Pregnant women and their fetuses are extremely vulnerable to lead. In women, lead increases the risk of infertility and miscarriages; in fetuses, lead can cause low birth weight, premature birth and impaired mental and physical development.

The improved screening and treatment of lead poisoning decreased the severity of symptoms usually seen. However, the level of lead in the blood does not establish what symptoms are seen, since lead in blood only establishes current exposure. Recently, studies have shown that a long exposure to low amounts of lead may have severe neurobehavioral effects that are not diagnosed until the child enters school (Singhal et. al., 1980).

Learning to understand what causes a lead contamination or lead poisoning creates a need to actually

This statement makes its point. It is only safe for no lead to be in the body. Another question some may ask is why is lead so toxic? Like minerals, when consumed, they spread throughout the body. The consequence is, lead replaces some of the metals bodies need (Helmenstine). To provide reasoning, decreased IQ levels from lead means that lead switched with another metal, calcium (Helmenstine). When lead replaces calcium in transmissions of electrical impulses to the brain, it disrupts the way to recall or think, thus making you not as smart (Helmenstine). Another example are neurons, and they take in and use calcium +2. Because lead is so similar and also possessing a +2 charge, acting as a substitute for calcium. Once lead ions are taken in, they will cause damage to the nervous system (Object Retrieval).

Lead exposure causes permanent brain damage. Children under six are most at risk from small amounts of lead. Among adults, pregnant women are especially at risk from exposure to lead. In children, lead can cause nervous system and kidney damage, decreased intelligence, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities; speech, language, and behavior problems. In pregnant women, lead is passed from the mother to the fetus and can cause miscarriages, premature births, brain damage, and low birth weight.

happening. Likewise, a similar situation of not knowing happened in the Renaissance period. Merisi da Caravaggio, an italian painter, died early with one of the causes being lead

Exposure to lead can happen in multiple ways such as inhalation, eating, or touching the substance (ATSDR).Ways that possible lead poisoning is tested is by blood tests for excessive EP (erythrocyte protoporphyrin); which is a part of the red blood cells that increases when the body has a high amount of lead (ATSDR.). Lead is toxic to humans and affects human’s bloodstream.Ways that possible lead poisoning is tested is by blood tests. A product that can lead to lead exposure is paint that contains lead. Lead was used in paint as a pigment, as the years have gone on it is used less and has been banned for being used in house paints (ATSDR). Even though it is no longer used in paint for houses, people who live in older houses which had been

Lead, a naturally occurring metal and can be used in almost everything. It can cause serious health issues if it is exposed for a long time, particularly in children as they are more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead in their bodies. Each year, in the United States 310,000 of 1- to 5-year age group are found to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, which can cause a wide range of symptoms. (1)

Inhalation is a secondary method in which lead can enter into the human body. This route of exposure is often a problem in less developed countries where leaded gasoline is still used for motor vehicles, and can pollute the air of exposed population (Environmental Health and Medicine Education). Although lead in this form may be presented to the lungs as a particulate, the absorption of lead in this form is far greater than ingestion. Ingestion only absorbs 20% while inhaled lead absorbs up to 70% of the overall dose of lead (Environmental Health and Medicine Education). The last major method of absorption is the dermal exposure to lead. Although this is not a significant pathway of exposure, organic lead may still be absorbed directly through

Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body over a long time. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. Lead poison causes serious damage to physical and mental development. Children with lead poison have very low IQ level. Main source of lead poison is old paints. Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning are developmental delay, learning difficulties, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, sluggishness and fatigue, and abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, seizures and hearing loss. Symptoms may not present until high level of lead is accumulated in blood.

Due to the fact that lead is a large percentage of the mineral galena and is a major health hazard to not only the environment, but also humans, it too has to be extracted and disposed of properly. Lead can be absorbed through dermal and mouth contact. This form of exposure can be particularly dangerous for children, in many cases leading to death. Miners also are at a large risk of exposure if they do not have the correct protective equipment and frequently come into direct contact with ore containing lead. Lead in the form of dust has the possibility to be inhaled by miners during the mining and crushing processes. The health effects of exposure to lead can be both severe and long-lasting. The problems caused by lead poisoning are particularly