Lead, you could be eating it!

 I think it’s safe to say when I mention the word lead we all think of paint, and how some country songs brag about us “surviving in cribs painted with lead based paint” Well, we may have survived but our mental capacity may have suffered a couple of IQ points. 

What is lead? 

Lead is a soft blue-gray metal it’s durable, malleable and corrosion-resistant. Environmental lead levels have drastically increased due to anthropogenic uses and in the past we have added lead to paint and even gasoline. Lead was added to gasoline to reduce the knocking heard in the combustion engine. Lead can be found in drinking water by leaching from lead contaminated pipes, brass faucets and solder. Unfortunately boiling does not get rid of lead, it’s advised to run cold water before using the tap to reduce lead exposure in homes with lead pipes. Lead is still currently used in some industrial paints, computers, solder, pewter, ceramic glazer for pottery, jewelry and automotive batteries. Imported products pose a significant risk for lead exposure as lead regulations are not standard beyond the United States.

Children and pregnant women are most at risk for lead exposure; both absorb more lead than others. Children living in older homes are at increased risk of exposure as well. Elevated soil lead levels are often found near roadways since leaded gasoline was the standard pre-1976.  

What are the health effects of lead exposure?

Neurocognitive deficits are the most common adverse health effect of lead exposure. At high levels lead can cause brain damage, coma and even death. There is NO SAFE threshold for lead exposure. None, zip, there should be zero amounts of lead detectable in blood samples.

Lead causes an increased risk of pre-term delivery in pregnant mothers and currently the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends all pregnant mothers have a lead test. A simple blood test can determine if a mother has been exposed to lead. The problem is most gynecologist today do not perform the test, and most mothers don’t understand the importance of having a lead test. It’s important for individuals to know as early as possible if they are being exposed to lead, because there are no symptoms to low level lead exposure most people do not know they are being exposed. Reducing an infants exposure is key to promoting healthy development once the baby arrives home, this is why lead test in pregnant women is so important. Most infants do not receive a blood lead test until they are around 6-9 months of age, if by testing moms we could reduce exposure in infants those irreversible adverse health effects could be avoided. Sadly according to the CDC only 12 percent of American children under the age of 6 have been screened for lead exposure. Your doctor can perform the lead test in the office with a simple toe prick, your child’s blood will but tested and if your child has an elevated blood lead level the health department will be notified so a team of professionals can come to your home and help find the route of exposure. It’s very important to have your children tested for lead, again there are no symptoms except in high levels of exposure and the only way to know your family is safe is to consent to a lead test when visiting your pediatrician.

A source of lead you may not have considered is imported candy, a recent study suggest imported candies can contain lead levels higher than the FDA recommendation of 0.1 ppm (parts per million). Possible sources of candy contamination; the wrappers and ink on the candy, chili, tamarnind, candy packaging like spoons, straws and pots used to make the candy. In some cases these sources can contain up to 150,000 ppm! The moral of this story is, do not let your child eat imported candy.

That pretty vase you brought back from Mexico or purchased at Pier One might also be a lead source in your home. Ceramic pottery is often coated with a leaded glaze, which is not heated to high enough temperatures to heat-fix lead. Cooking in traditional bean pots poses a threat as well, the lead can leach into the food during the cooking process.  Some uncommon but very real sources of lead are, candle wicks, leaded ink paper products, bathtubs, mini-blinds and garden hoses to name a few. An important note about these unknown sources is this; there are no lead standards for atypical sources like those listed above!

What can we do to curb the problem?

Make sure your children are screened for lead exposure at their next pediatric visit, ask your pediatrician about the test. Identify if your home was built prior to 1978 and contact your health department for guidance on testing within your home. Reduce your families potential exposure by limiting imported ceramic products in your home, don’t eat imported candy, hire professionals to remove or cover lead paint, find out if your pipes are made out of lead and avoid atypical sources of lead. 

Why Children are Especially Sensitive to Environmental Exposures

Children’s Vulnerabilities and Environmental Toxins

In the United States 1 million fetal deaths occur annually and 300,000 low birth weight infants occur, children’ environmental health issues include; air, both indoor and outdoor, water, infectious agents and chemicals treating the water, lead, asthma, mercury and pesticides.

Why are children especially vulnerable to their environment?  First and foremost children experience rapid body growth and development. Children experience high exposure rates, a child’s diet, behavior, and physiology differs greatly from adults. For example, a child’s hand-mouth behaviors pose significant risk for toxic exposures.  Children occupy close proximity to floors and the ground, where soil, dust, and poor air quality exist.  Children intake higher ratios of air, water, and food per body weight compared to adults.  These behaviors put children at greater risk for environmental exposures.

An important note about children and their skin; a child’s skin is more permeable than adults and is the most permeable immediately after birth. I believe its especially important to avoid baby's first bath for at least a few hours after birth, and understand what soaps and lotions are going on baby’s skin. Children are born with a white waxy or cheesey like substance on their skin called vernix caseosa. This is the infant’s natural protective barrier, and when rubbed into their skin (instead of rubbed off) will help protect them from dermal exposures. Infants are equipped with their own protective barrier, and it’s important that we parents understand the purpose of the vernix and what steps should be taken to protect our little bundles of joy's skin.

Finally, children have immature detoxification systems and there is inadequate toxicity testing when it comes to the harmful effects of environmental toxins and children.

The primary sources of exposure in children are food, air, soil, and water and the routes of exposure are of course ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption. Exposure to environmental toxins can cause serious adverse health effects like nervous system damage, respiratory, reproductive and immune system damage as well as major birth defects.

This is why I'm always harping on the importance of organic foods (ingestion exposure to pesticides) chemical free baby lotions, baby soaps and even what toys kids play with. 

How to reduce your exposure to Mercury

Mercury Exposure and Children

Mercury occurs both naturally and anthropogenically (man made) in our environments.  The naturally occurring sources of mercury include; geologic sources, degassing of the earths crust and bacterial conversion of elemental mercury into organic mercury.

The solubility and toxicity of mercury varies depending on which of the three forms we are discussing.

Elemental mercury comes from the burning of fossil fuels, mining, smelting, medical waste incinerators and volcanoes. Now, elemental mercury is used in a wide variety of house hold goods including, thermometers, barometers, fluorescent light bulbs, and even traditional folk remedies.  Mercury has been used for dental fillings in the past but according to the CDC they do not pose a significant health risk, you be the judge.  However, according to recent research having your mercury fillings replaced poses a greater risk of exposure than leaving them untouched.  If the filling is damaged and needs repair extra precaution should be taken to reduce both the patient and doctors risk of exposure.

How are we exposed to mercury and what does it do to our bodies? Mercury is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted by our bodies. Most mercury vaporizes and we ingest it via our respiratory system.  Ever watched Alison and Wonderland, the Mad Hatter is suffering from Mad Hatters Disease, mercury was used by hat makers and thus those exposed to elemental mercury exhibited mental effects and tremors.  The half life for mercury in adults is 60 days but for children that number is significantly longer.  The metabolized mercury concentrates in our brains and if pregnant crosses the placenta and concentrates in a developing fetus. The list of adverse health effects of elemental mercury is quite significant; central nervous system damage, necrotizing bronchitis, insomnia, loss of appetite, tremors, excessive sweating, organ damage, and death. Erethism, a syndrome characterized by red palms, memory loss and emotional liability has been reported in those suffering from elemental mercury poisoning.

Inorganic mercury is the second type on our list, its uses range from antibacterials and antifungals to teething powders and skin-lightening creams. All of these uses have been banned in the United States however they are available worldwide and in specialized markets. Another reason to carefully understand what your buying and where it is coming from. The half life of inorganic mercury in adults is 40 days and of course much longer in children. Adverse health effects of inorganic mercury mimic those of elemental mercury and include a syndrome known as “pink disease” the syndrome is comprised of leg cramps, irritability, peeling of the hands, nose and soles of the feet.  In sever cases of exposure the circulatory system will collapse and renal failure can be fatal.

Finally the most important form of mercury that has the greatest potential for our children to be exposed is Organic Mercury.

Organic mercury is classified by three organic compounds, methylmercrury, phenylmerury and ethylmerury. All three of these compounds are used as biocides and pesticides.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is used as a fungicide for seed grains. From 1955-1972 methylmercury being used as a fungicide caused an epidemic in Iraq. There were more than 6,000 victims and hundreds of deaths from eating contaminated grains. Children exposed prenatally suffered birth deffects, growth reduction and abnormal reflexes. Exposed children age 2-16 experienced visual and hearing defitis parethesias and incontinence. Another history lesson involving population exposure to methylmercury occurred in 1953 in the fishing village of Minimta, Japan. Villagers consumed fish from a contaminated bay. The average consumption was 300 grams of fish per day and the fish had mercury levels of 10-30 micrograms per gram. There were more than 2000 victims total and 64 children exposed prenatally, none of the prenatally exposed children crawled, walked or stood before age 3 and some not until age 7. Many children who were exposed suffered mental retardation, abnormal reflexes and cerebral palsy.

Organic mercury attacks the proteins found in our DNA, it disrupts our DNA replication process and protein synthesis. Organic mercury impairs cell mobility and control of chromosome movements during cell division. Organic mercury exposure greatly impacts a developing fetus and can have catastrophic effects.

Oranic mercury is used as a latex paint pesticide to prevent mildew growth, it’s also used as a latex paint preservative to prevent discoloration. It’s been used as a fungicidal diaper rinse and in topical pharmacological preparations.

Where has organic mercury been used?

Oranic mercury is used for topical antispetics and was once used as a vaccine preservative known as thimerosal. Thimerosal was used in multi-dose vaccines since the 1930. The CDC states there is no convincing evidence of harm vaused by the doses in vaccines but the single dose of some vaccines did exceed the EPA oral reference dose (RfD) The EPA states the RfD for methylmercury as 0.1 microgram per kilogram per day and single dose vaccines did in fact exceed that EPA standard. Again I’ll let you decide if there is “no evidence of harm” In my opinion if the EPA gives a reference the CDC should acknowledge the standard and in an effort to protect public health, honor their findings and limit exposures to children.

In 1999 vaccine producers limited mercury components of childhood vaccines since 2001 with the exception of the flu vaccine thimersal is not used in routinely recommended childhood vaccines. Current vaccines with trace amounts of theimerosal contain less than 0.5 mircorgrams of mercury per dose.  For our generation our life exposure to mercury during the fist six months via childhood vaccines was 187.5 micrograms and currently our children’s exposure to mercury via vaccines is less that 3 micrograms.  So if your wondering what your child’s exposure to mercury is via the current CDC schedule, now you know.

Now onto mercury in fish, both the EPA and the FDA list fish advisories. These are fish species with the most serious threat, the primary target is pregnant women.  It’s very important to limit yourself to one serving per week, albacore or white tuna and completely avoid swordfish, king mackerel and shark. These fish contain the highest amounts of mercury.

Organic mercury is lipid soluble and readily absorbed from the G.I tract. There is a high deposition of mercury in the liver, kidneys and brain. The primary exposure of mercury in children is eating fish exposed to organic mercury. Currently WIC a program aimed at helping pregnant women and children obtain proper nutrition subsidizes the cost of canned tuna, if a program aimed at the betterment of children aides in the exposure of children to organic mercury what does that say about our children’s future? I personally believe this is a significant problem, encouraging pregnant women and young children to consume food that increases their risk of exposure to toxic organic mercury and serious adverse health effects. 

Organic mercury exposure prevention, how do we address this growing problem. Currently the EPA and FDA have different “safe” exposure rates clearly getting on the same page will help the public understand what is considered safe, by any standard.  Also better education, pregnant women need to understand the risk involved with consuming canned tuna, better manufacturing controls to reduce emissions and more comprehensive regulatory measures to protect children of possible exposures.

On a side not, never ever vaccum a shattered CFL, if you do the mercury found in the bulb is instantly vaporized and spread throughout your home. Also dispose of CFL’s at an approved location, either Home Depot or Lowes.

I’m always open to questions, and if you have any about ways to reduce your families exposure to mercury sources don’t hesitate to ask. Coaching my friends and family on how to live healthier, safer lives is my passion.