Lead in Objects

5th Period Chemistry

Junior Class 2014-15

Crystal
When glass is blown into crystal, the addition of lead creates a silver shine and sparkle
that makes the end product more visually appealing and valuable. The higher the lead
content, the more attractive the end product is: but leaded crystal can be very dangerous.
When used to store liquids, lead can very quickly leech out of the crystal and into the
liquid. White wine can more than double its lead content after only an hour of being
stored in a leaded crystal vessel. Leaded decanters, while popular, can be very dangerous
and cause lead poisoning. More lead leeches into whatever is stored in leaded crystal over
time, so it is best not to store food or water in leaded crystal. Children and pregnant
women should especially avoid leaded crystal.

http://cchealth.org/lead-poison/pdf/ceramics.pdf
http://www.crystaldecanter.org/lead-crystal-decanter.html

Toys
According to webmd.com, lead-based paint was banned in 1978, but it continues to be a
hazard in 25% of U.S. homes with children under the age of 6. Over the past year, the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has overseen more than 30 million recalls
(Almost 4 million were due to excessive lead found in toys) in certain toys mass
produced in China. China manufactures about 80% of the toys present in the U.S.,
meaning that over one million children within the U.S. are at a higher risk of lead
poisoning. After completing numerous years of research, the executive director of a
nonprofit group to prevent lead poisoning in Baltimore, Maryland, Ruth Ann Norton, says
that when you are in doubt, you should throw it out. You should throw out any toys that
have paint that has been chipped and any brightly colored toys (painted), because they
can easily be ingested by young children. Be careful of the toys you purchase for your
child.

http://www.webmd.com/children/features/lead-in-toys-could-it-be-lurking-in-your-home

Gasoline
Lead in gasoline has been a topic of concern for some time now, spanning back since
before the 70s. "Regular" gasoline typically contained approximately 4.0 grams of lead per
gallon. In 1985, it was reduced down to 0.5 grams per gallon, and even further in 1986,
down to 0.1 grams per gallon. Nowadays, "unleaded gasoline" is allowed to contain no
more than 5/100ths of a gram of lead per gallon. But why the need to remove lead? Its
toxic, and studies have shown that exposure to it in young children can result in damage
to their central nervous system, and possibly high blood pressure in adults. Exposure
normally happens through gasoline by inhaling the fumes created by cars.

http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/airpage.nsf/webpage/Leaded+Gas+Phaseout

China

Lead has been used in household items for centuries. Roman potters were noted by
Roman historian of having severe illness after years in their profession. However, even in
modern society, lead is used in ceramics and pottery, though its harms are prevalently
known within the scientific community. Leads uses in pottery largely center on glazes to
give the ceramics strength, to prevent moisture from penetrating the dish, as well as to
give the dish a colorful, glass-like finish.

In America, the sale of leaded pottery has been outlawed by the FDA. However,
secondhand items containing lead are still within our society. Tableware labeled as LeadSafe contain lead, but to a safe limit. To avoid lead contamination through tableware, do
not use tableware if you are unsure whether it meets lead-safety standards.

http://cchealth.org/lead-poison/pdf/ceramics.pdf

Car Battery
Car batteries were first invented in 1859 by Gaston Plante. These batteries contain a form
of lead acid that is very inexpensive. When a car battery is overcharged, it will electrolyze
some of the water emitting hydrogen and oxygen causing a gas discharge. Anybody
exposed to the discharge could also be exposed to the lead inside of the battery. Thats
why when working on batteries, any person should wear goggles and fire protective gear
so that they wont be hurt from the explosion, but also the exposure of lead also.

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp13.pdf

Soil

Lead used in factories, lead paint from acid rain, and even dust from demolished houses
that at one time contained lead paint, will leech into the soil with rain and be deposited
there for decades. This lead will contaminate any crops or plants grown from that soil,
and therefore also poison any person who consumes any edible parts of those plants.
Additionally gardeners or children who work and play in lead contaminated soil will get
lead on their bodies, which can be absorbed through any contact with the mouth. Even if
no lead is absorbed into the mouth, lead contaminated dirt will inevitably be tracked into
the house and make up deposits of lead dust, which can be inhaled into or enter the
body through contact with the mouth.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9339217

Dust
Lead is found in dust, particularly in dust in pre-1978 housing. As paint and other
materials that contain lead deteriorate, they produce leaded dust. Dust containing lead
can also be produced due to construction on a house containing leaded products like
paint, or lead can be tracked into the house from contact with soil containing lead. Once
inside, dust with lead in it will settle. If disturbed by vacuuming or sweeping, the dust
may enter the air and from there enter the body system. The dust with lead can also
enter the body when people come in contact with the leaded dust, get it on their hands,
face, or other materials like food, and then they eat or drink. To avoid leaded dust,
maintain all painted surfaces, clean frequently, and hiring renovators certified in lead-safe
renovation, repair, and paint jobs. To clean dust that potentially contains leaded paint,
use soft, damp cleaning products like mops, sponges, or dampened wash clothes. The
EPA has made below 40 micrograms per square foot of lead on floors and below 250
micrograms per square foot for window sills as the safety guidelines that should be
followed.

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/403fs01.pdf
http://www2.epa.gov/lead/hazard-standards-lead-paint-dust-and-soil-tsca-section-403
http://www2.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family#sources

Pencils
The lead found in normal wooden pencils is in the paint on the pencil, not the writing
core (which is made with non-graphite). The reason its dangerous to use lead paint on
wooden pencils is because some children chew on the pencils, scraping off paint. This
dissolves in the childs mouth, making it easier to enter the childs bloodstream. Children
under six years old who get lead poisoning have their red blood cells destroyed from the
lack of oxygen. A major symptom of high lead exposure in young children is a coma,
death, or brain damage.

http://pencils.com/lead-in-pencils/
Lead in Pencils by A. F. Shaplowsky
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/lead-pencils-harmful-children-7191.html
KidsHealth.org

Lead-Based Paint

Lead based paint was used in houses built before 1978. Lead is a highly toxic metal that
can cause many negative health effects. The deteriorated lead-paint can mix with soil and
household dust. There are many ways for a person to be poisoned with lead. Three of
which are, putting lead contaminated objects into the mouth, eating the peeling paint
chips, or playing in soil around houses built before 1978. If the home was built before
1978, there are some things that can be done to lower the amount of lead poisoning that
will happen. Some of the things that are able to be done are:
Wiping down surfaces with a damp, disposable towel
Mopping hard floors every week
Taking shoes off before entering the house
Vacuum carpets and furniture to minimize dust
Picking up the paint chips with a throw away (or a paper) towel and throw away
into trash, then clean surface with a wet paper towel
Minimize paint dust creation by taking precautions when remodeling
Paint over the walls with new non-leaded paint

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes/healthyhomes/le
ad