Lead and Human Exposure - Research Paper Example

Lead and Human Exposure Lead and Human Exposure Human exposure to chemicals and harsh elements may lead to health issues. Lead is a poisonous substance and its exposure to humans and the environment is fatal. Significant use of lead is seen in the battery industry, where lead is used extensively. On the other hand, it was used in paint making but technology and law prohibited the use of lead in paints by having knowledge of its poisonous nature. However, in some regions of the world where law permits the use of lead in the paints and other materials, it is still in massive use. Studies show that humans that are exposed to lead for longer times have hair loss problems, elevated blood pressure, weight problems, and other health problems. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earth quakes, floods and heavy rains are a reason for spreading the poisonous chemicals. In this way, the industrial chemicals reach homes and penetrate into the bodies of the men, women and children that have low or no exposure to lead. After hurricane Katrina, lead was found in homes and agricultural fields that presented a health hazard and exposed the humans to lead. The fumes and the floods became the major reasons for exposing the lead from the factories to homes. On the other hand, the onshore lead utilized in making some types of chemicals in ships reached the fields and homes. A sample of sediment and soil from New Orleans is checked for lead and a heavy amount of lead was found in the sample (Rabito et al, 2012). The Environmental Protection Agency planned a renovation strategy that would limit the impacts of the lead. However, a report presented that the families that are planning to return to New Orleans must have to face high health hazards due to the presence of lead in the city. However, no survey was conducted by the government and environmental agency to estimate the amount of lead present in residential units (Rabito et al, 2012). Soil samples of New Orleans before and after Katrina were tested to identify the amount of lead present in the soil. Katrina is type of hurricane that may contaminate the environment with excessive lead through air, water or sediment transfer. The major issue is the water contamination that restricts the use of water for irrigation and other purposes and remains a danger for the marine life. On the other hand, air and soil contaminations are only restricted through proper control and neutralization tactics (Rabito et al, 2012). The tests show the most amount of lead is found in the soil sample near the industrial areas particularly the industries that are involved in the recycling and production of lead based products. On the other hand, the coastal regions have more exposure as compared to the regions at higher sea levels (Rabito et al, 2012). It was considered that the heavy metal might have contaminated the fresh water resources presenting a constant danger to the environment and the habitat of the regions. Lead exposure may also lead to an elevated blood pressure in children if the lead is exposed to the people and the pregnant women that may become a cause of the heart diseases in children (Whelan et al, 1997). The important perspective is that the exposure to the lead may be a reason for the colic and paralysis as described by the old Greek physicians. Old bridges have a coat of lead based paint that prevents rust from penetrating. On the other hand, it is equally harmful for the fish and other marine animal and plant species (Fan et al, 2012). Lead is capable of contaminating all the sources that reach humans like soil, water and air. On the contrary, the exposure does not only require the person to inhale or intake the substance, touching the element or in-taking its smoke may be more dangerous. Before the hurricane, the amount of lead in the soil was decreasing gradually at a higher pace due to the regulations imposed on the utilization of lead based products and generation of other alternate products. On the other hand, as lead is considered a heavier metal its amount in the soil may depend on the concentration of the other components of the soil. The image shows the locations that are most affected by Katrina. Green dots are the locations that have higher concentrations of heavy metals. The acceptable level of lead exposure in construction is about 50μg/m3. Above these levels, the risk of health hazards increase. At the exposure level of 50μg/m3, there is a need to ensure that the required protection is taken; otherwise the permissible concentration of the substance may be a problem in cases of long term exposure. The allowed exposure of lead suspended in the air is about 1.5μg/m3. More than the mentioned concentration of lead in the air may result in serious health hazards. Policies were made regarding the high exposure of lead. However, the policies made by Environmental Protection Agency should be employed to ensure that no industry is involved in emitting more than the allowed amount of lead into the environment. The further health risks associated with the lead exposure can be controlled by utilizing and promoting products that have no or little amount of lead (Fan et al, 2012). Encouraging products with little or no lead will gradually decrease the level of lead in soil and air. Also, it will encourage researchers to evaluate the feasibility of other elements that can be utilized instead of lead and lead based products. On the other hand, there is a need to develop sensitive equipment to evaluate the level and percentage of the lead concentration at various locations including homes, industries and agricultural fields. The detection of the lead may prevent workers and the residents to evaluate the concentration of lead and how the concentration can be lowered to prevent any health hazards (Fan et al, 2012). In some conditions, the lead is utilized in the gasoline to enhance the engine and vehicle performance. The utilization of such a technique makes the lead to be converted in the fumes and oxidized that makes the fuel much poisonous as compared to the solid element. If such type of fuel spilled on the ground, it can be transported through the water or other mediums. The inhalation of fumes produced through the burning of lead gasoline fuel may cause serious lung diseases including difficulty in breathing (Safi et al, 2006). Case study An 11 month old female child was diagnosed with a high amount of lead which is about BLL (Blood lead level) of 42 mcg/dL on 6/20. The race of the child is African American. The existing amount is considered at the harsh level may provide many health hazards. The child was not ever operated on or even hospitalized and not even had any illness. Also, the mother of the child delivered the baby normally. The elder brother of the child is also diagnosed with 15mcg/dL, while the parents of the child were not ever analyzed for lead (“Lead Poisoning Prevention Program”., n.d.). The mother of the child is a homemaker and is 27 years old, while father has an advisory business and is 27 years old. The father of the child has his own house. The family was not aware of the year of building of house (“Lead Poisoning Prevention Program”., n.d.). The house is old and recently the family was repainting the house, thus the old paint was scraped out but utilizing scrubbing tools and sand paper. The children were kept at home while the parents renovated the home and no lead prevention method was utilized. Still the infected child showed no symptoms of constipation, vomiting or body ache (“Lead Poisoning Prevention Program”., n.d.). The family lacked the knowledge about the prevention of lead, thus it is important to spread the knowledge about the prevention of lead and such products that involve lead in its manufacturing. On the other hand, the normal clinical procedure was followed with excessive care regarding the lead infected child. The educational plan included washing of the hands and the toys of children or any other thing that is brought in contact with the children. The child had undergone a chelation therapy, a chemical treatment to remove lead from the body for about 5 days that resulted in lowering the lead level regarding the child to a significantly lower level at 30mcg/dL as a few weeks passed. Also, the treatment eliminated or reduced the amount of lead stored in the bones and the child recovered at a faster pace. The Environmental Protection Agency developed plans to visit the house on a regular basis to ensure that no further lead exposure happens. The level of lead in the child lowered to 8mcg/dL after about 1.5 years (“Lead Poisoning Prevention Program”., n.d.). The source of lead exposure was the old lead based paint. While renovating a house one must take good care of the children and have good knowledge of what type of paint product he is disposing or utilizing. There is a need to give special attention to the precautionary measures regarding lead and its harsh nature. There is need to consult the Environmental Protection Agency and other associating organizations before renovating the house or in case of emergency. References He, S., Liu, G., Wang, L. & Song, S. (2012). A Portable and Power-Free Microfluidic Device for Rapid and Sensitive Lead (Pb2+) Detection. Sensors, 12, 9467-9475. Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. (n.d.). Nassau County, Long Island New York. Retrieved November 25, 2012, from http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/physician/documents/Case1.pdf  Rabito, Felicia A., Iqbal, S.,  Perry, S., Arroyave, W.& Rice, Janet C. (2012). Environmental Lead after Hurricane Katrina: Implications for Future Populations.Environmental Health Perspectives, 120 (2), 180-184. Whelan, Elizabeth A., Piacitelli, Greg M., Gerwel, B., Schnorr, Teresa M., Mueller, Charles A., Gittleman, J. & Matte, Thomas D. (1997). Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Children of Construction Workers. American Journal of Public Health,  87 (8), 1352-1355. Safi, Jamal;Fischbein, Alf;Sameer El Haj;Sansour, Ramzi;et al. (2006). Childhood Lead Exposure In The Palestinian Authority, Israel, and Jordan: Results from the Middle Eastern Regional Cooperation Project, 1996-2000. Environmental Health Perspectives; 114, 6; ProQuest pg. 917 Read More