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Half of American kids have lead in their blood, doctors say

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Re: Half of American kids have lead in their blood, doctors say

#271

Post by wizzwizz4 »

KorematsuFredt wrote: post #263
wizzwizz4 wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you are talking about society then we already know that free market competition leads to the best outcomes. Who's “we”? I was under the impression that https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_failure was accurate.

Market failure is applicable only in limited cases to the extent that it matters. Employment in this case is not one of those.

So how do you explain… *gestures around* ?

Employment is one of the most obvious, salient examples of market failure I can think of. Exploitative employers engineer situations where employees can't even use the job market, because they need a job and job-shopping (e.g. taking time off-call to do interviews) will lose them their job. Example: Arise Virtual Solutions[0].

If that's not a good enough example? See the gig economy. Companies taking over a service sector “with an app”, at a loss (using investor money), then squeezing the money back out of employees (e.g. by misclassifying them, not telling them how much each gig pays, programming virtual micromanagers to work them to the point of health problems in the name of “efficiency”). To use your words:

> If you are talking about welfare of specific group of people (at the expense of others) then you are right.

[0]: https://pluralistic.net/2020/10/02/chickenized-by-arise/#ari...

Re: Half of American kids have lead in their blood, doctors say

#272

Post by graeme »

fighterpilot wrote: post #210
graeme wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you only find out later, is it any use at all? I found out my drinking water had low levels of lead, for about ten years.

How did you find out. What test?

The city sent by an engineer in training with a lead meter. Not sure of the nature of the test but there are standard ones for lead.

Re: Half of American kids have lead in their blood, doctors say

#273

Post by graeme »

xyst wrote: post #207
graeme wrote: post #144

How big a concern is lead in adults, and is there anything that can be done about long run exposure to lower levels? I live in Montreal, and found out the city pipes in my area had lead. So I've been drinking it about ten years; have bottled water now. My understanding is that chelation is good for acute exposure but wasn't sure it's recommended for lower levels. Now do I know if this is actually something to be conc…

Bottled water often comes from the same sources as your tap, so the "no ongoing exposure" is not always guaranteed. Additionally, bottled water companies (at least in the states) is not regulated by the same laws as municipal/city water companies.

That varies by area. This is Eska water, from an esker in the north of quebec. It doesn't have lead pipes. The lead in Montreal's water comes from old city pipes.

Re: Half of American kids have lead in their blood, doctors say

#274

Post by Cryptonic »

"...linked to poverty — especially old housing in underserved communities."

It's always the same story. #blacklivesmatter should also become an environmental and rapid climate change movement. Most oft those paying the price, for what mostly rich white men do to our planet, are people of color.

Re: Half of American kids have lead in their blood, doctors say

#276

Post by mythrwy »

jeffbee wrote: post #204
mythrwy wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lead does have horrible effects but I have to wonder if poverty might be a confounding variable.

I have to wonder if not reading the PDF was a confounding variable in your reply.

Oh so you neglected to post a very important "Study controlled for XX" in your summary?

Given your misuse of the term confounding variable it makes sense.

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