9.4 Heavy Metals

The Needleman article about lead was a very interesting read because it gives us an overview of lead exposure through-out history and a solution that would theoretically decrease exposure to little to un-detectable. The article illustrates that the increase in prevalence of lead exposure since its discovery in 1914, is due to technological advances that highlight the trace amounts in children. This means there is a perceived greater health threat (though many cases are asymptomatic). The author wants to spend money now to eradicate (abatement) lead based houses ($33.7billion). Theoretically this strategy will save in healthcare costs over time and the raise the IQ of the population- increasing overall wealth (an estimated 60-billion-dollar gain). I question the method because replacing all of these houses would require people to be removed from their homes and then there is the question of replacing all the lead piping. As for the second article it is still alarming that kids in the remote villages of Nigeria are deemed “ok” when they are more than double the threshold of lead poisoning of an adult in the U.S. (10micrograms and 4x the limited amount for kids 5micrograms). Countries should take environmental health seriously and there should be global standards. I know the U.S. is the standard for most countries when it comes to being the lead of environmental health issues, but there needs to be some accountability on the local government upheld by global peer pressure.