Krystal Treadwell
May 7, 2014
Week 7 assignment 1
Environmental Issues The lead poisoned candy scare put fear in hundreds of parents as well as costing the many different companies thousands of dollars. Lead has been found in some consumer candies imported from Mexico. Certain candy ingredients such as chili powder and tamarind may be a source of lead exposure. Lead sometimes gets into the candy when processes such as drying, storing, and grinding the ingredients are done improperly. Also, lead has been found in the wrappers of some imported candies. The ink of these plastic or paper wrappers may contain lead that leaches into the candy.
Most domestic and imported candies already meet the stricter lead threshold. However, the FDA moved to lower the limit from an earlier half a part per million after the sampling of dozens of types of candies imported from Mexico and after information from other sources revealed additional ingredients used in some sweets can boost the lead content beyond allowable levels. Government tests had documented 102 candies with levels between 0.2 and 0.49 parts per million lead and 159 candies even higher, starting in 1993. In children, acute exposure to very high levels of lead may produce encephalopathy and other accompanying signs of * ataxia * coma * convulsions * death * hyperirritability * stupor The BLLs associated with encephalopathy in children vary from study to study, but BLLs of 70-80 µg/dL or greater appear to indicate a serious risk (ATSDR 2005). * Even without encephalopathy symptoms, these levels are associated with increased incidences of lasting neurological and behavioral damage (ATSDR 2005). Children suffer neurological effects at much lower exposure levels. * Neurological effects may begin at low (and, relatively speaking, more widespread) BLLs, at or below 10 µg/dL in some cases, and it may not be possible to detect them on clinical examination. * Some studies have found, for example, that for every 10 µg/dL increase in BLL, children's IQ was found to be lower by four to seven points (Yule et al., 1981; Schroeder et al., 1985; Fulton et al., 1987; Landsdown et al. 1986; Hawk et al. 1986; Winneke et al. 1990 as cited in AAP 1993). * There is a large body of evidence that associates decrement in IQ performance and other neuropsychological defects with lead exposure. * There is also evidence that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and hearing impairment in children increase with increasing BLLs, and that lead exposure may disrupt balance and impair peripheral nerve function (ATSDR 2005). * Some of the neurological effects of lead in children may persist into adulthood. | Adults | There can be a difference in neurological effects between an adult exposed to lead as an adult, and an adult exposed as a child when the brain was developing. * Childhood neurological effects, including ADHD, may persist into adulthood. Lead-exposed adults may also experience many of the neurological symptoms experienced by children, although the thresholds for adults tend to be higher. Lead encephalopathy may occur at extremely high BLLs, e.g., 460 µg/dL. (Kehoe 1961 as cited in ATSDR 2005) * Precursors of encephalopathy, such as dullness, irritability, poor attention span, muscular tremor, and loss of memory may occur at lower BLLs. Less severe neurological and behavioral effects have been documented in lead-exposed workers with BLLs ranging from 40 to 120 µg/dL. (ATSDR 2005) These effects include * decreased libido * depression/mood changes, headache * diminished cognitive performance * diminished hand dexterity * diminished reaction time * diminished visual motor performance * dizziness * fatigue * forgetfulness * impaired concentration * impotence * increased nervousness * irritability * lethargy * malaise * paresthesia * reduced IQ scores * weakness There is also some evidence that lead exposure may affect adults' postural balance and peripheral nerve function. (ATSDR 1997a, b; Arnvig et al. 1980; Haenninen et al. 1978; Hogstedt et al. 1983; Mantere et al. 1982; Valciukas et al. 1978 as cited in ATSDR 1999)Slowed nerve conduction and forearm extensor weakness (wrist drop), as late signs of lead intoxication, are more classic signs in workers chronically exposed to high lead levels |

There is only one FDA approved product to remove lead from the human body and that is DMSA. This is the term for dimercapto succinic acid. This has been approved for use in humans for over 20 years. There are virtually no negative side effects and it is relatively inexpensive. You can now buy DMSA online with no prescription, even if you are in the United States. Note that there is a fairly strict protocol that must be followed when taking DMSA for it to work as it was designed to. The lead poisoning treatment protocol is explained on this site.

In an effort to regulate the use and abatement of lead-based paint in residential housing, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) have promulgated regulations requiring landlords and sellers of “target” residential housing to disclose the presence, if any, of lead-based paint. “Target” residential housing means any housing constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless any child who is less than six years of age resides or is expected to reside in such housing) or any 0 bedroom dwelling (“Target Housing”). See 24 CFR §35.86. Housing providers must notify purchasers and tenants of the hazards of lead-based paint which may exist in Target Housing of the symptoms and treatment of lead-based paint poisoning, and of the importance and availability of maintenance and removal techniques for eliminating such hazards. 24 CFR §35.1. (Price, 2000)