LEAD POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION:
Lead is a chemical element in the carbon group with symbol Pb (from Latin: plumbum) and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft and malleable metal, which is regarded as a heavy metal and poor metal. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to air. Lead has a shiny chrome-silver luster when it is melted into a liquid. Lead is used in building construction, lead-acid batteries, bullets and shot, weights, as part of solders, pewters, fusible alloys, and as a radiation shield. Lead has the highest atomic number of all of the stable elements, although the next higher element, bismuth, has a half-life that is so long (much longer than the age of the universe) that it can be considered stable. Its four stable isotopes have 82 protons, a magic number in the nuclear shell model of atomic nuclei. If ingested, lead is poisonous to animals, including humans. It damages the nervous system and causes brain disorders. Excessive lead also causes blood disorders in mammals. Like the element mercury, another heavy metal, lead is a neurotoxin that accumulates both in soft tissues and the bones. Lead poisoning has been documented from ancient Rome, ancient Greece, and ancient China.

What is lead pollution?

Lead Pollution is the introduction of lead into the atmosphere in a matter that it affects the environment Lead contamination in the environment is due to human activities. Gasoline lead additives and lead-based paint are a major source of environmental contamination. Mining and smelting are additional contributors of environmental pollution. According to the Bureau of Mines, the total amount of lead put into gasoline and paint during the 20th century was approximately 12 million tons. A rapid phase-down of the use of lead as an additive to gasoline began in 1986 in the United States. It was entirely banned in 1996 with some exceptions. The addition of lead in house paint was banned in 1978. Although the use of lead is now limited, residual contamination from both gasoline and paint is present in soil and dust and continues to be a problem in many cities. Resuspension of soil and dust is a major contributor to the ongoing dispersal of lead. ONCE LEAD IS MINED , PROCESSED AND INTRODUCED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT IT IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOREVER.THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL DESTROY LEAD OR RENDER IT PERMANENTLY HARMLESS. NEARLY ALL OF THE LEAD IN THE ENVIRONMENT IS DUE TO MAN'S ACTIVITIES.

Uses and sources of lead :

Paint (until 1970) Petrol (tetraethyl lead) Household dust (via settlement of air pollution) Ceiling dust

Occupational Solder Ceramic glazes Pesticides (lead arsenate) Cigarettes Mines, smelters TV's, Computer monitors Batteries, Bullets Sinkers Aviation X-ray shields Crystal-ware (high levels in decanters) Explosives Non-stick linings of pots (in the past) Plastic colouring (wire, blinds) Pewter

Absorption of Lead:
Lead goes down iron or calcium absorption pathway in GIT. Children absorb lead well orally (~50%) cf adults poorly (~10%). Children also have more hand to mouth activity. Lead absorption is enhanced if diet is poor in iron or calcium. Pica is one of the worst risk factors. Lead can be inhaled. Tetraethyl lead can be absorbed via skin.

IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION FROM LEAD

It is important to prevent one from lead pollution because one possesses high risks of attaining various health hazards. One of the most dangerous hazards is lead poisoning ( It is a medical condition in humans and other vertebrates caused by increased levels of the heavy
metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. It interferes with the development of the nervous system . Symptoms include abdominal pain, confusion, headache, anemia, irritability, and in severe cases seizures, coma, and death.)

Pollution affects us all. But most of all it affects the most vulnerable in our society: the young, the elderly and the poor. Pollution does not follow political or geographic boundaries, so regardless of where it was released, pollutants can end up in our soil, air, food and water. Some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can travel thousands of kilometers, so pollution is never just someone elses problem. Some pollutants are toxic in small quantities (e.g., low level ozone (O3), a smog constituent) or can build up over time to levels of concern (e.g., lead, mercury). Daily, we are exposed a toxic soup of low levels of hundreds of pollutants. Scientists do not yet understand the effect of this toxic soup on our health and the health of our environment. Some scientists believe that the earth may be experiencing a death by a thousand tiny cuts Lead poisoning is entirely preventable.The key is stopping children from coming into contact with lead and treating children who have been poisoned by lead. The goal is to prevent lead exposure to children before they are harmed. There are many ways parents can reduce a childs exposure to lead. The key is stopping children from coming into contact with lead. Lead hazards in a childs environment must be identified and controlled or removed safely. What can be done to prevent exposure to lead? It is important to determine the construction year of the house or the dwelling where your child may spend a large amount of time (e.g., grandparents or daycare). In housing built before 1978, assume that the paint has lead unless tests show otherwise. 1.Talk to your state or local health department about testing paint and dust from your home for lead. 2.Make sure your child does not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint. 3.Pregnant women and children should not be present in housing built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation. They should not participate in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up paint debris after work is completed. 4.Create barriers between living/play areas and lead sources. Until environmental clean-up is completed, parents should clean and isolate all sources of lead. They should close and lock doors to keep children away from chipping or peeling paint on

walls. You can also apply temporary barriers such as contact paper or duct tape, to cover holes in walls or to block childrens access to other sources of lead. 5.Regularly wash childrens hands and toys. Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil. Both are known lead sources. 6.Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components. Because household dust is a major source of lead, parents should wet-mop floors and wet-wipe horizontal surfaces every 2-3 weeks. Windowsills and wells can contain high levels of leaded dust. They should be kept clean. If feasible, windows should be shut to prevent abrasion of painted surfaces or opened from the top sash. 7.Prevent children from playing in bare soil; if possible, provide them with sandboxes. Parents should plant grass on areas of bare soil or cover the soil with grass seed, mulch, or wood chips, if possible. Until the bare soil is covered, parents should move play areas away from bare soil and away from the sides of the house. If using a sandbox, parents should also cover the box when not in use to prevent cats from using it as a litter box. That will help protect children from exposure to animal waste. To further reduce a childs exposure from non-residential paint sources: o avoid using traditional home remedies and cosmetics that may contain lead; o avoid eating candies imported from Mexico; o avoid using containers, cookware, or tableware to store or cook foods or liquids that are not shown to be lead free; o remove recalled toys and toy jewelry immediately from children. Check Lead Recalls lists. o use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula (Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead. Most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.); o shower and change clothes after finishing a task that involves working with leadbased products such as stain glass work, bullet making, or using a firing range.