Lead Poising Essay

Improved Essays
Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful to human health; there is NO safe level for lead exposure. The degree of exposure depends on the concentration of lead, route of exposure (air, water, and food), current medical condition, and age. It has been estimated that up to 20 % of the total lead exposure in children can be attributed to a waterborne route, i.e., consuming contaminated water. In addition, infants, fetuses, and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. This is because they usually consume more water and their bodies are actively developing, which facilitates the bioaccumulation of lead. Lead poising is a huge matter that should be acted on immediately. Many civilians have died or have been effected one way or another …show more content…
These homes might contain lead paint hazards, as well as drinking water service lines made from lead, lead solder, or plumbing materials that contain lead. Adequate corrosion control reduces the leaching of lead plumbing components or solder into drinking water. The majority of public water utilities are in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) of 1991. The purpose of this paper is to show the results of lead in samples of water taken from test houses. Drinking water is only one of the possible routes of exposure to lead contamination, but it is one of the easiest routes of contamination to reduce. The primary route for lead poisoning in drinking water is not old contamination of the water by leaded fuels, old batteries or some hazardous waste site, the primary route is the distribution system used to carry water to your home and more importantly the plumbing within your home. In homes, built prior to 1930’s water pipes were primarily made from lead. These pipes can be identified because the piping tends to have a dull gray color, can be scratched with a key, and a

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Lead has leading to public health in danger. In Flint, Michigan there was a state of emergency on January 5th, 2016 due to lead in the water supply. Many residents and children of Flint were poisoned by the lead which caused irreversible brain damage and could affect physical health. Governor Richard Snyder was well aware of the lead problem in the city's water system. He didn’t warn or tell any government officials that there was rusting on the pipes.…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Flint Water Crisis

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the article “I’m a Flint resident. I’m done paying for water that is not safe” by Tunde Olaniran, Olaniran discusses the issues surrounding the water crisis in Flint Michigan. She speaks of her own history regarding the unsafe water and how she paid her bills until she was afraid to drink it or even let it touch her skin. The water crisis is due to high levels of lead and corroded pipes which combine together to make unsafe water for all purposes. Some experienced hair loss and scalp issues when washing their hair.…

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Tar Creek Superfund Site

    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Abstract This paper details the causes and extent of the pollution at Tar Creek Superfund site in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. This Superfund site is a heavy metal-contaminated area that was created by the aftermath of zinc and lead mining operations throughout the 1900s. The pollution has put local inhabitants at risk of different health issues, and while risk assessments have shown that no significant health risks are obvious compared to the rest of the state of Oklahoma, blood lead levels have been recorded to be high in Ottawa county children. Many different organizations, both government and private, are involved in the remediation of Tar Creek Superfund site.…

    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Growing up, leadership has always played a huge role in my life. It has helped me grow as a person and allowed me to learn new skills. In middle school, I enjoyed working with my peers to organize events and help others. For example, as a member of my school’s choir, I took the opportunity to help organize concerts, design brochures and make posters to inform the school community about upcoming concerts and events. In addition, I took part in the fundraiser to help raise money for our music department at Carson.…

    • 292 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Concerns starting with rashes, lost hair, and some sickened or ill. Beyond the physical characteristics affected by lead, comes mental. Small but subtle doses of the vital water can lower IQ levels, immediate initiate disabilities, disorders, and tentative behaviors (Adams). Following these minor effects come the more severe. Children sent to hospitals with lead poisoning, stunted growth, along with mothers of premature, and behavioral and learning problems (Greenblatt).…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “Lead Contamination in Flint - An Abject Failure to Protect Public Health” David Bellinger examines the impact Flint’s contaminated water has and will continue to have on its population, primarily the children. In 2014, executives from the Flint Water Treatment Plant decided to use the Flint River as the main source of water instead of Lake Huron as a “cost saving measure.” The river is polluted with lead from older, now defunct industrial factories which specialized in products that contain harmful byproducts. One of the water-purifying agents used in the Flint River is ferric chloride which has an effect on naturally occurring bio-matter in water, increased corrosiveness.…

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The environment, and therefore water, is an ever present factor in our lives. Contaminated water is a big problem when thinking about environmental geography, but it shouldn't be a problem in a developed country like the United States. When people have to drink contaminated water or worry about if the water they are consuming is safe, it takes away from valuable time and resources that could go towards solving other problems and further developing our society. The high levels of lead in the Flint water can also contribute to problems related to economic geography. Due to residents having no alternative but to drink contaminated water, property values in Flint have dropped dramatically.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Flint Water Problem

    • 225 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Flint, one of the largest cities in Michigan, has been recently in news for its very high lead concentration in drinking water. The problem started when the city temporarily changed its water source as a cost saving measure. Lead in Flint’s municipal water came from the old lead pipes, which reacted with highly corrosive Flint River water in the absence of proper treatment measures. Lead concentration in Flint water is found to be so high that it can be easily considered as hazardous waste. Although, the residents of Flint were complaining about their water from the very beginning, neither the local and the state government nor the EPA considered that as a problem.…

    • 225 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Justin Wing Final Paper Section 101 GSI: Elizabeth Gilbert 6/28/17 The Flint Water Crisis and Implicit Racism Imagine consuming and using water that is not clear, but yellow in color. This is a harsh reality that the people of Flint, Michigan experience every day. The Flint Water Crisis reflects the structural and environmental racism towards African Americans in the United States government due to the disproportionate exposure of lead and other toxic chemicals in the water and their lack of political power.…

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Flint's Water Case Study

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages

    When Flint decided to stop buying Detroit’s water and switch to new water, they had no idea what was in store. Soon, every Flint civilian was exposed to Lead. Lead can affect children’s brain development, education attainment, and impair the body. Increasing Lead amount in Flint’s water can cause permanent issues in the town members’ health. Flint’s government is at fault here, and it needs to take charge before things get worse.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    With the known health consequences of lead exposure having been known since the 1800s, recent interest in environmental lead concentrations has sparked research projects. There has been grave concern by the medical community that a significant amount of children have elevated blood lead levels. The analysis could help to further reduce lead exposure and its corresponding potential for neurological…

    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The term privilege can be interpreted and viewed in many ways, such as having an advantage, being fortunate, having something someone else does not have. Many kinds of thoughts, negative and positive can be associated with the word privilege The thoughts and feelings surrounding the term privilege can change based on personal and individual experiences and upbringings, the term could mean a variety of things to a different individuals or groups of people. Other terms that usually follow the term privilege are equality, race, and economic status. There are many questions and debates that are sparked based off the term privilege, and for good reason. Some reasons debates are started from the term privilege are racial profiling and job opportunities…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    (n.d.). Retrieved from http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/02/04/nail-comparison-25fe809a4ebbce2538cf223521efed0f1a116f4e-s800-c85.jpg Lead is very bad for your body, as it has a variety of effects on the body. The blood first absorbs it where it inhibits the function of the body. Experts say no level is safe for kids. Lead can also damage the brain.…

    • 1404 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Fighting Back Against Water Pollution Water pollution needs to be reviewed as the increase in toxins in possible drinking water has increased in the last 20 years. Through the use of our technology and use alternative renewable energy sources, re-evaluating our usage and methods of disposing waste preserving both fresh and marine water in the United States. A common discrepancy that is brought up when discussing water pollution is whether the cost will become too large to even begin creating change, that the amount of resources required to implement could be used elsewhere for a more immediate impact. The discussion of environmental problems is a topic of many political debates, but throughout the years scientific evidence has documented the…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Being a leader is not an easy job. You have to put everybody before yourself. Leadership is more than just leading people in the right direction. Being leader doesn’t mean being the boss of everybody, that’s a completely different thing. Leading is actually working with the people and going through everything together, you don’t watch them do everything while you tell them what to do.…

    • 1277 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays