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Lead is still bad for your brain

neurofrontiers.blog

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Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#141

Post by throwanem »

albedoa wrote: post #120
philjohn wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair lead pipes aren't good, but the other uses in the Roman Empire were probably the cause of far more of the issues. Especially with hard water (of which the water in Rome is VERY hard[1] today, and if similar sources are used, it stands to reason it was very hard way back when) it forms a scale that drastically reduces the amount that leeches into the water. [1] https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-wat…

That is exactly what people told him at the time: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43231697 He is being dishonest.

If you must lie, be less bad at it. From the paper [1] she read and you didn't:

> It is now universally accepted that utilization of lead for domestic purposes and water distribution presents a major health hazard. The ancient Roman world was unaware of these risks. How far the gigantic network of lead pipes used in ancient Rome compromised public health in the city is unknown...[Lead isotopes in sediments from the harbor of Imperial Rome] demonstrate that the lead pipes of the water distribution system increased [lead] contents in drinking water of the capital city by up to two orders of magnitude over the natural background. The [lead] isotope record shows that the discontinuities in the pollution of the Tiber by lead are intimately entwined with the major issues affecting Late Antique Rome and its water distribution system.

[1] https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1400097111

Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#143

Post by maxbond »

copperx wrote: post #81
theandrewbailey wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my mind, there's only two acceptable uses of lead: radiation (x-ray, gamma ray) shielding, and ICE batteries. Even then, I expect there's much increased demand for those things (and thus, the lead to manufacture them) from 50 years ago.

Don't scream at me, but what about non-industrial, hobby soldering? AFAIK soldering is not hot enough to vaporize lead.

Lead-free solder works fine as long your soldering iron is decent. Even if the lead isn't vaporized, you'll be exposed by touch and splatter. When I learned to solder I learned on complete crap soldering irons that could barely work with leaded solder, and I developed a prejudice against lead-free. But lead-free solder has gotten better, and investing in a Weller or a Hakko will save the hobbyist so much time and frustration and ruined components that it's the way to go anyway.

If your iron can hold it's temperature worth a darn, the lead-free solder is fine. If it can't, you're going to struggle no matter what you use.

Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#144

Post by refurb »

dustincoates wrote: post #24
gregwebs wrote: post #14

This is a great article on the biology of lead exposure. Unfortunately on the exposure side research wasn’t done and it propagates the myth that lead exposure is only an issue for those with lead pipes or lead paint. It’s true that these are the main sources of severe lead exposure. However the article points out that there is no safe level of exposure to lead and these aren’t the main ways we are exposed to lead in…

There can even be lead in fruit pouches: https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/news/outbreak-applesauce... I'm far from crunchy, but this led me to start making my kids pouches. They're more expensive per pouch, which was a bit surprising, but it has the side benefits that we make the pouches together (quality time) and I can control what goes in (e.g., spinach, carrots, broccoli).

How would you eliminate lead exposure by making your own pouches? Would you test the produce you use for led before using it?

I ask because there is no source that guarantees 100% that it won't have harmful lead levels. Lead is often introduced through the soil, so unless your organic farm where you buy produce either tested the soil ahead of time (pretty rare unless someone though it might be a concern) or regularly tests the produce they make, you're just assuming it won't have harmful lead levels.

Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#145

Post by refurb »

londons_explore wrote: post #27

Did you know, the world still mines more lead now than it did 50 years ago, at the peak of 'put lead in everything' mania? To me, this says that we still put lead in too many things. Lead is still used for flashing in roofs. It's still used as a mould release when making plastics. It's still used in making dishware. It's still used in bullets. It's still used for all kinds of things which will one day end up in the e…

Many of those uses of lead don't end up in the environment. Lead is actually quite inert when in metal form - it develops an oxide/carbonate layer and there is little erosion. Metal in bullets is pretty inert and shooting ranges filter air before exhausting it (as dust is formed from impact).

As for lead in plastic manufacturing or dishware, that's mostly a matter of buying wisely. As it tends to be used in less developed markets.

Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#146

Post by refurb »

jvanderbot wrote: post #31

There's a "acceptable minimum level of lead" in most processed foods such as baby food. This is because food cannot be heavily processed without some heavy metals leeching in, according to a food safety guy who is a long time friend. It is completely mind boggling we let that happen.

It's not mine boggling at all.

Our ability to detect lead only gets better and better with new technologies. Whereas a few decades ago we could detect 1 part in 1 million (ppm) we can now routinely detect down to 1 part per 1 trillion (ppt), that's 1 million more sensitive analysis.

To give a sense that's a 1 microgram in 1,000 tons of material.

As a result, you can't set the level at "no lead" because that's an impossible level to achieve.

Right now the US sets it at 10 parts per billion. So in a normal jar of baby food - approximately 100 grams - that's less than 0.1 microgram of lead.

Lead naturally occurs in soil at levels 15-40 parts per million or 1,000 times higher. Growing your own veggies in soil untouched by man is going to risk higher levels than allowed in baby food.

Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#147

Post by jabwd »

ifyoubuildit wrote: post #49
krapp wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US is probably going to put more lead into everything because RFK Jr believes it builds character or something.

His whole thing is about environmental toxins probably being the cause of most of our problems, so no that doesn't seem likely.

His whole thing is making money. Whatever grift it is he'll grab it, that is all it is with persona's that pretend science is fake.

Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#148

Post by adgjlsfhk1 »

mmillin wrote: post #12
nottorp wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Competition shooters? They're not likely to touch lead, unless they fatally disobey shooting range safety rules. Now the people manufacturing the bullets for those competition shooters... they need lead tests.

A small amount of lead makes its way out of the chamber in the form of dust and fumes after shooting. It’s quite easy to breath this in or get it on your hands and accidentally ingest it. Not enough to matter for someone who occasionally goes to the range, but significant for those shooting nearly daily, especially if shooting indoors.

the obvious solution is to switch to depleted uranium ammo

Re: Lead is still bad for your brain

#149

Post by ImHereToVote »

PeterHolzwarth wrote: post #40
damnitbuilds wrote: post #2

I live with children in a very old house. I would love to be able to measure my children's lead exposure and check things like window paint or house dust for lead content to see how big a problem there is. How do I do that?

If you wish to do some of your own tests, vs using a service, swab test kits have a reputation for being very poor quality and unreliable. This led this gal to start a kind of one-woman crusade on the topic: https://tamararubin.com/2023/01/dont-panic-these-lead-test-k... She recommends the american brand Scitus for swab test kits.

Awesome. Thank you very much.
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