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Half of American kids have lead in their blood[1] and I don't think this is only happening in the US. I don't think governments are inclined to fixing this eith

Half of American kids have lead in their blood[1] and I don't think this is only happening in the US. I don't think governments are inclined to fixing this either. [1] https://futurism.com/neoscope/half-american-kids-lead-blood-doctors-say https://futurism.com/neoscope/half-american-kids-lead-blood-...

pkaye 5y ago
Is there similar data for other countries for comparison?
refurb 5y ago
I mean lead naturally occurs and we can detect it down to parts per trillion, so saying “half of kids have lead in their body” doesn’t tell me much.
- thelastgallon 5y ago
  There is no safe threshold for lead exposure. [1]. Nearly all toxins have some threshold, it becomes toxic at parts per million. For lead, this is zero. All toxins also decay/degrade over a period of time, the effects aren't long lasting. Not so for lead, it is forever! "Unlike such carcinogens and killers as pesticides, most chemicals, waste oils and even radioactive materials, lead does not break down over time. It does not vaporize, and it never disappears." "modern man’s lead exposure is 300 to 500 times greater than background or natural levels. " [2] [1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27837574/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27837574/ [2] https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2000/03/02/secret-history-lead/ https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2000/03/02/...
  - refurb 5y ago
    Please stop. You’re twisting facts to suit your own purpose. Let’s say there is no safe limit for lead. Regardless you’d have to agree that at some point the harm caused by lead becomes irrelevant? If someone has 1 ppt lead in their blood the harm isn’t actually measurable? And no, you’re wrong. Lead is excreted (why measure in urine/feces otherwise?). Lead exposure isn’t permanent just like all the other toxins humans are naturally exposed to.
    - thelastgallon 5y ago
      > Let’s say there is no safe limit for lead. Regardless you’d have to agree that at some point the harm caused by lead becomes irrelevant? If someone has 1 ppt lead in their blood the harm isn’t actually measurable? How does the harm from lead become irrelevant? It takes the role of calcium. Deposits in the bones, slowly and continuously gets back into the bloodstream. Takes the roles of calcium in all of its pathways. It isn't a one time exposure, we are all exposed to it, 300 - 500 times more than earlier humans. > And no, you’re wrong. Lead is excreted (why measure in urine/feces otherwise?). Lead exposure isn’t permanent just like all the other toxins humans are naturally exposed to. Digestive system is not 100% efficient at extracting nutrients. Absorption is 10 - 90%, varies on a number of factor. Everything ingested is excreted. Excreted doesn't mean it is explicitly selected for filtering. Fats, vitamins, proteins, everything is excreted to some degree. > Please stop. You’re twisting facts to suit your own purpose. Looks like you are. I haven't twisted any facts.
      - refurb 5y ago
        The harm is irrelevant because it’s such a small effect. That’s why the EPA threshold for lead in water is not zero it’s 15 ug/L. There is no value in aiming for zero because of diminishing returns. And I’m not sure how incomplete digestion is relevant? Lead is excreted naturally. Sure it can have a very long half life but that doesn’t jive with “it only accumulates”.

pkaye 5y ago

Is there similar data for other countries for comparison?

refurb 5y ago

I mean lead naturally occurs and we can detect it down to parts per trillion, so saying “half of kids have lead in their body” doesn’t tell me much.

thelastgallon 5y ago
There is no safe threshold for lead exposure. [1]. Nearly all toxins have some threshold, it becomes toxic at parts per million. For lead, this is zero. All toxins also decay/degrade over a period of time, the effects aren't long lasting. Not so for lead, it is forever! "Unlike such carcinogens and killers as pesticides, most chemicals, waste oils and even radioactive materials, lead does not break down over time. It does not vaporize, and it never disappears." "modern man’s lead exposure is 300 to 500 times greater than background or natural levels. " [2] [1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27837574/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27837574/ [2] https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2000/03/02/secret-history-lead/ https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2000/03/02/...
- refurb 5y ago
  Please stop. You’re twisting facts to suit your own purpose. Let’s say there is no safe limit for lead. Regardless you’d have to agree that at some point the harm caused by lead becomes irrelevant? If someone has 1 ppt lead in their blood the harm isn’t actually measurable? And no, you’re wrong. Lead is excreted (why measure in urine/feces otherwise?). Lead exposure isn’t permanent just like all the other toxins humans are naturally exposed to.
  - thelastgallon 5y ago
    > Let’s say there is no safe limit for lead. Regardless you’d have to agree that at some point the harm caused by lead becomes irrelevant? If someone has 1 ppt lead in their blood the harm isn’t actually measurable? How does the harm from lead become irrelevant? It takes the role of calcium. Deposits in the bones, slowly and continuously gets back into the bloodstream. Takes the roles of calcium in all of its pathways. It isn't a one time exposure, we are all exposed to it, 300 - 500 times more than earlier humans. > And no, you’re wrong. Lead is excreted (why measure in urine/feces otherwise?). Lead exposure isn’t permanent just like all the other toxins humans are naturally exposed to. Digestive system is not 100% efficient at extracting nutrients. Absorption is 10 - 90%, varies on a number of factor. Everything ingested is excreted. Excreted doesn't mean it is explicitly selected for filtering. Fats, vitamins, proteins, everything is excreted to some degree. > Please stop. You’re twisting facts to suit your own purpose. Looks like you are. I haven't twisted any facts.
    - refurb 5y ago
      The harm is irrelevant because it’s such a small effect. That’s why the EPA threshold for lead in water is not zero it’s 15 ug/L. There is no value in aiming for zero because of diminishing returns. And I’m not sure how incomplete digestion is relevant? Lead is excreted naturally. Sure it can have a very long half life but that doesn’t jive with “it only accumulates”.