Personal Injury Lawyers in New York

What is Lead?

Lead is one of the group of Earth’s elements known as “heavy metals” (the heavy part referring to atomic weight). Some others in the group are iron, copper, zinc, manganese, mercury and plutonium.

• Iron, copper and zinc are essential nutrients up to a point, but too much will cause illness.
• Mercury, plutonium, and lead have no known positive effect on living organisms including humans. When they accumulate in the body, they can cause severe illness

A Little History

People have mined and used lead for many thousands of years. People have also known for thousands of years that it can be harmful. Writings exist from 250 BC about anemia and colic caused by lead poisoning.

In ancient Rome, where eating and drinking were a major recreation, wine was sweetened with lead acetate and caused gout. A Roman medical document from 30 AD includes “white lead” in a list of poisons for which there are antidotes. White lead (also called sugar of lead) is lead soaked in vinegar, which made a lead paste. The remedy for white lead was walnut juice in the wine. But although the Romans knew of lead’s toxicity, they still used it in make-up and skin care, and in treatments for bleeding, infection, and inflammation.

In ancient China, alchemists had a practice of soaking lead in blood and then firing it. If that was done several times, a protective coat formed on the lead’s surface – very useful for martial training. This procedure kept the fighters safe from lead poisoning.

In Boston, in the 18^th century, people were fond of rum. Because the rum was made in stills made partly of lead, lead poisoning became widespread at that time.

In modern times, lead exposure has mostly come from leaded paint and leaded gasoline, besides occupational exposure for some. Although paint and gasoline are no longer made with lead in the U.S. (or in many other countries), old buildings still have old lead paint, usually flaking off and causing air-borne dust.

In Lead Poisoning: Part 2, this space will cover the symptoms of lead poisoning. If you have a child who may be suffering from lead poisoning, please call or email us and we’ll be glad to consult with you at no charge.