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Which is also a useless statement without knowing the lower threshold for measurement. There certainly exists an amount of lead that's safe. One molecule won'

Which is also a useless statement without knowing the lower threshold for measurement. There certainly exists an amount of lead that's safe. One molecule won't harm you. Two won't either. But where the limit is nobody knows. And nobody will know for a long time because current trends in lead exposure are rife with confounding factors (i.e. poverty) and the proliferation of statements like "no safe level" dis-incentivize research (finding a number won't matter if nobody cares about your number because "there's no safe level).

jeffbee 6y ago
No, you are misinterpreting the situation. Blood lead levels have a linear relationship with decreased cognitive function. The least detectable levels of lead have measurable impact on mental development. You can't say that "one molecule won't harm you" because you don't know that and all the evidence we have indicates you are wrong. 1 molecule may very well equal 1 fucked-up synapse.
- Scoundreller 6y ago
  > Blood lead levels have a linear relationship with decreased cognitive function. I've read the opposite: > It is also critical to note research indicates the relationship between BLLs and IQ deficits is not linear; rather, the first small elevation of BLL in young children apparently causes most of the neurological damage, with additional higher exposures causing disproportionately less additional IQ reduction (Maas, 2005). p. 20: https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2015-11-13/proposed_corrosion_control_plan.pdf https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/20... Mass, 2005: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497727/pdf/16134575.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497727/pdf/161... (ugh, which just refers to another source for the statement).
  - jeffbee 6y ago
    Well, you got me on the English usage point. I need a word other than "linear". What I am trying to communicate is there is no threshold, nor is there a beneficial amount, like there is with other metals like copper. You should eat a milligram of copper. You may eat a gram of copper and nothing will happen. If you eat a kilo of copper, you'll die. There isn't any amount of lead so small that it will leave you unharmed.

jeffbee 6y ago

No, you are misinterpreting the situation. Blood lead levels have a linear relationship with decreased cognitive function. The least detectable levels of lead have measurable impact on mental development. You can't say that "one molecule won't harm you" because you don't know that and all the evidence we have indicates you are wrong. 1 molecule may very well equal 1 fucked-up synapse.

Scoundreller 6y ago
> Blood lead levels have a linear relationship with decreased cognitive function. I've read the opposite: > It is also critical to note research indicates the relationship between BLLs and IQ deficits is not linear; rather, the first small elevation of BLL in young children apparently causes most of the neurological damage, with additional higher exposures causing disproportionately less additional IQ reduction (Maas, 2005). p. 20: https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2015-11-13/proposed_corrosion_control_plan.pdf https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/20... Mass, 2005: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497727/pdf/16134575.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497727/pdf/161... (ugh, which just refers to another source for the statement).
- jeffbee 6y ago
  Well, you got me on the English usage point. I need a word other than "linear". What I am trying to communicate is there is no threshold, nor is there a beneficial amount, like there is with other metals like copper. You should eat a milligram of copper. You may eat a gram of copper and nothing will happen. If you eat a kilo of copper, you'll die. There isn't any amount of lead so small that it will leave you unharmed.