Amount Of Lead In Your Water example essay topic

The Greeks were the first to mine lead ore in their search for silver which they used for coins. They also discovered a use for lead in making wine; and as a result, they unwittingly exposed humans to a toxic metal. The Romans followed suit by using lead in many infrastructures, in wine-making, and for food storage. Their use of lead causes speculation that lead poisoning may have contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. Major contamination of lead was brought on by the increased use of the heavy metal during the Spanish conquests.

And, although Benjamin Franklin detected symptoms of lead poisoning, lead was still used long after the Industrial Revolution. Lead is commonly found in the modern environment in air, soil, food, drinking water, and house paint. Lead is a heavy metal that affects human health because the body cannot break it down. Ingesting or inhaling lead particles found in the air and the environment causes lead poisoning. The lead remains in the body and disturbs the enzyme system and the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen through the bloodstream to organs and tissues.

Although nearly all Major sources of the toxic heavy metal include leaded paint, leaded gasoline, recycled oil, ceramics, contaminated soils, and smelters. Dietary sources of lead include contamination of agricultural crops, lead in food containers, contaminated drinking water, and unexpected sources such as lead shot in game birds. Let's take a closer look at some of these sources. Lead in drinking water. Lead gets into the drinking water because of corrosion in pipes or from certain properties of the water.

The lead in drinking water most likely results from lead that leaches in from pipes. Through the 1920's, lead was used in household pipes. Newer homes now have copper pipes. However, up until 1988 lead solder was legally still being used.

Many cities over 100 years old still have lead in the pipes that run between the main and individual homes. Water treatment plants deliver drinking water from a cast iron pipe to the mains. The cast iron pipe does not contain lead. In addition, faucets often have brass / lead valves. Even faucets labeled as "lead free" are permitted to contain up to 8 percent lead.

Humans experience worst case situations when they drink water that is left standing in pipes for one to three days. o Lead glazes in pottery, crystal, and kitchenware. Recent probes show that dangerous dishes are even found among popular and reputable brands. Lead poisoning may occur when brightly colored ceramic tableware and pottery leak and contaminate food. Acidic foods cause the lead to leak more. Therefore, caution is needed when purchasing colored ceramics. An additional risk is the potentially serious effects of the vapors that are created during the firing of the pottery. o Food containers and packaging.

A recent study indicated that the use of lead-based inks on bread bags was harmful because the lead would migrate to food if the bags are turned inside-out and reused. o Lead dust on clothing. Persons who work with lead may have lead dust on their clothing. When high levels of lead are present, the entire body is affected, especially the nervous system and kidneys. Normal and daily activities give enough opportunities for children to come in contact with lead toxicity. Even small doses of lead can cause irreversible damage to children's intelligence.

Lead is especially harmful to children ages three and under whose brains and nervous systems are still in the developmental stage. Lead poisoning is a health problem that may affect as many as one out of every six children in the U.S. Before the age of three, lead can enter the central nervous system easily. It is estimated that more than three million pre-school children suffer from various levels of lead poisoning. When children ingest lead, the lead is absorbed four times greater than by an adult. Children and fetuses are at the greatest risk and can suffer learning disabilities, decreased growth, impaired hearing, and brain damage. Studies of children show that lead poisoning causes biochemical effects that result in neuro behavioral problems.

The lead negatively affects cognitive thinking and short-term memory. The lead also causes behavior disturbances, reading disability, and attention deficit disorder. Encephalopathy and death occur from high doses of lead. Severe retardation, school problems, and downward shifts in IQ result from low doses of lead.

IQ shifts can range from 4 to 15 points. At this time it is believed that the damage from lead is permanent. Adults are primarily at risk for lead poisoning due to exposure in the workplace. Standards exist to limit lead exposure on the job, but research suggests that they are not sufficiently strict.

Mugs and old crystal are also main sources of lead exposure for adults. In adults lead poisoning can trigger high blood pressure, anemia, and reproductive system disorders. Lead poisoning can also cause kidney damage in otherwise healthy individuals. Mental retardation and death can result from extreme cases of lead poisoning. It is important that we educate the public on how to reduce the exposure to lead and how to utilize techniques for minimizing each of the dangers discussed above. The following suggestions provide some easy steps for preventing lead poisoning. o Have children tested.

Home-test kits are available. Screen children by one year of age and a second time before they are two years old to detect possible lead poisoning. Have the child's blood tested if the house is known to have lead in the water. o Test your home for lead-based paint. Your local health department may provide a service, or home-test kits are available. o Test the water in your home. People who have soft, acidic water should have their water tested for lead. Consider contacting a water testing lab in your area.

Many water testing labs will test for free. In many areas, you can also contact certified labs. Home-test kits are available, too. o Flush the line before drinking or cooking with the water. Flush until the water runs cold, maybe as little as 30 seconds or as much as two minutes. o Never cook with hot water. Hot water absorbs more lead from the pipes. o Do not boil water needlessly. Boiling concentrates the lead in the water. o Replace lead pipes with PVC plastic or copper.

Copper corrosion also presents a health problem, though it is much easier to beat than lead. Current surveys show that the amount of copper in drinking water is under control. At this time there is no indication that plastic pipe presents a health problem. o Buy a home water filter. The best filters currently available can remove as much as 99 percent of the lead in the water. There are several types to consider, depending on the amount of lead in your water and how much water you consume. Among the types are reverse osmosis filters, under-sink filters, countertop filters, and faucet-mounted filters..