Lead as an Environmental Pollutant

Lead as an Environmental Pollutant

Lead
 

Lead is a metal found in the environment. Lead, easy to shape and a good conductor, is one of the most serious of environmental pollutants .If a person is exposed to large amounts of lead, poisoning may occur. It has adverse effects as it accumulates in the body, especially for children and pregnant women. It can lead to behavior disorders, anemia, mental retardation and permanent nerve damage. Most lead accumulates in bone and kidney.

Mankind has been using lead for over 6000 years, and solely as a result of anthropogenic activities, lead has become the most ubiquitous toxic metal. Hippocrates was probably the first of the ancient physicians to recognize lead as the cause of colic. Lead toxicity was recognised and recorded as early as 2000 BC and its widespread use has been a cause of endemic chronic plumbism in several societies throughout history. The last three centuries also witnessed the worst outbreaks of lead poisoning among adults, which were occupational in origin, although environmental pollution also reported adverse effects of lead on health. Many reviews and references are available in literature related to health effects of exposure to lead. Now-a-days, there is much concern about its exposure from occupational and community environment, contaminated food and consumer items, and water. In India, some industries especially those making batteries, cables, paints, sheets, pipes, industrial alloys are the major consumers of lead. The possible sources of lead exposure are contaminated soil and water, mining, ceramics, food adulterants, pencils, toys, industrial effluents, cosmetics and herbal medicines. In developed countries, lead exposure is on the decline due to implementation of environmental and occupational regulations but in developing countries lead poisoning continues to be a serious problem.

Lead is not natural within the body and is not required in the diet. Because of technology, however, lead exposure has become fairly common. This exposure can lead to increased levels of lead in the body, which may cause harm.

In India & the rest developing countries i.e., to majority the Asian countries the prevalence of Lead Poisoning and its Toxicity and its effects is very high due to the improper knowledge.

Lead poisoning in our Indian and Asian countries has silently taken epidemic proportions. It is a preventable disease. Combined actions and efforts of the government, public awareness, and societal responsibility of industry and timely interaction of the medical community are desired. All streams of society should channelize efforts to meet the challenge.

Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources of lead poisoning include contaminated air, water, soil, and some toys and cosmetics. Man-made sources of lead include lead smelting and refining, the combustion of leaded fuel, the production of storage batteries, the manufacture of alkyl lead and lead points and the application of lead-based pesticides. Lead pipes, lead-glazed earthenware and flaking lead points are possible sources of lead in the domestic environment.

A person can be exposed to lead from the following sources:

Ø  Paints

Ø  Vehicle exhaust

Ø  Leaded gasoline

Ø  Industrial lead exposure

Ø  Lead Acid Batteries

Ø  Glazy and shiny Cosmetics & Jewellery.

Ø  Industrial untreated Water Pollutant.

Ø  Soldering.

Ø  poorly glazed ceramic objects, which may be used to store beverages

Food

Food

Food is also a major source of lead intake in adults who are not occupationally exposed or have high concentration of lead in drinking water. The contribution of airborne lead to the total daily absorption as compared to average dietary intake is more difficult to estimate, as it depends upon the concentration, particle size and solubility of the lead. Some scientists suggest that airborne lead is much more dangerous and that about 50% of it may be absorbed on inhalation.

Lead in the food chain comes mostly from direct deposit from the air to plants and from livestock eating soil laced with lead as they eat the plants. The bans on leaded gasoline and paint have reduced exposure. Imported foods, however, may still contain significant levels of lead (chocolate, coffee beans, etc.)

Some older pieces of china may contain lead which can leach out from the surface of the dish and get into foods and beverages. Then, when the food is eaten, the lead gets into the body. Precautions that can be taken to reduce your exposure to lead in food include, avoiding the use of glazed pottery and pewter dishes to serve or store food, avoiding the storage of beverages in leaded glass decanters, keeping the home clean and as dust free as possible, eating a variety of foods.

Cosmetics:

Cosmetics are products people use to cleanse or change the look of the face or body.

Cosmetics

Cosmetic products include:

v  skin creams & lotions

v  perfumes

v  lipsticks

v  fingernail polishes

v  eye and face make-up products

v  permanent waves

v  hair dyes

v  toothpastes

v  deodorants

Unlike drugs, which are used to treat or prevent disease in the body, cosmetics do not change or affect the body's structure or functions.

Beauty products such as lipsticks, lotion, foundation, mascara add up to 515 chemicals on a woman’s face everyday, say a study. Therefore beauty is skin-deep quite literal. Experts linked some of the additives to cancer, hormone problems, skin conditions and allergies, usage of lead in cosmetics increases health risk in women.

Lead is used frequently in manufacturing cosmetics due to its glittering property, which attracts the people of different age groups. Most fashion accessories like cosmetics have lead content in alarming proportion. The risk run by the young people engaged in beautifying and embellishing their persona may be tacit but truly terrifying.

Immediate Actions for Lead Safe Cosmetics:

ü Taking immediate action to phase out the most hazardous cosmetics ingredients on the Indian market.

ü Empowering the Govt. to regulate cosmetic ingredients and products before they reach store shelves to ensure their safety.

ü Promoting Natural & Healthy Cosmetics.

ü Educating the youngsters and women’s in all walk of life regarding the dangerous of Lead.

Paints:

This industry category includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing paints (in paste and ready-mixed form); varnishes; lacquers; enamels; shellac; dry powder coatings; putties, wood fillers, and sealers; paint and varnish removers; paintbrush cleaners; and allied paint products.

Most schools have playground, play articles where the items are painted in bright colors. 90% of paints in INDIA were lead based till 2008. Some makers have changed some output to LEAD SAFE paint products.

FACTS ABOUT LEAD POLLUTION:-

1. Lead is a neurotoxin and accumulates in the environment, so it is patently foolish to spray it around the streets. Lead contributes to the high rate of osteoporosis, the brittle-bone disease that bends the backs, shortens the stature and breaks the hips of many older women
2. Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQ, reduced school performance and increased aggression. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, because lead easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain where it can interfere with normal development. At high levels, lead in the blood of a pregnant woman can lead to a miscarriage or premature birth and at lower levels it can hold back the development of an unborn baby's nervous system and brain. Soft (acidic) water in areas with lead plumbing can be hazardous to bottle-fed babies.
3. Children are particularly vulnerable. Lead has no biological utility and is hard to eliminate from the body. Lead can influence any organ system. Levels above 10 µg/dl are unacceptable level as of now. The toxicity of lead often depends on the blood levels. The lowest toxic range influences intelligence, hearing, and growth and pregnancy outcomes.
4.  Childhood is a risky time because exposure to lead during the first four years can damage nerve cells and retardation. Students with high levels of lead are more likely to be distracted and easily bored. Hyperactivity in a young child often turns out to be a symptom of lead poisoning, and hyperactive children are more likely to become delinquent
5.   A drop in children's IQ in some countries, i.e., five points on average, is blamed on lead in the air.
6.  No other toxic chemical pollutant has accumulated in man to average levels so close to the threshold for overt clinical poisoning.

Reduction of lead poisoning involve 4 independent strategies:

(1) To reduce occupational exposure from the Industries and adhering to the strict regulations to avoid environmental pollutant.

(2) To treat conditions like anemia, calcium deficiency which may increase lead absorption?

(3) To create awareness about lead poisoning among the general public and the Industries in turn bringing the precautionary measurements in minimizing to lead exposure.

(4) Treatment of a lead poisoned child, which includes managing symptoms, reductions of re-exposure and chelating under medical supervision.