Shopping Cart
Your Cart is Empty
Quantity:
Subtotal
Taxes
Shipping
Total
There was an error with PayPalClick here to try again
CelebrateThank you for your business!You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly.Exit Shopping Cart

Maria Augustyn

(Naturopath)

Maria Augustyn - BLOG

Blog

« Back to Blog « Older Entry | Newer Entry »

Lead exposure may affect 100,000 children

Posted on November 4, 2012 at 7:54 PM
 
Lead exposure may affect 100,000 children
 
As many as 100,000 Australian babies and preschoolers mayhave blood lead levels that put them at risk of impaired brain development andbehavioural problems, according to the authors of a new analysis who sayAustralia’s threshold value should be urgently revised to one tenth of thecurrent standard.
 
Environmental health specialists led by Mark Taylor fromMacquarie University made the calculation by extrapolating exposure rates in USchildren to the Australian population of those aged from birth to four years.
 
Professor Taylor said the current Australian recommendation that people be treated if they have morethan 10 micrograms per decilitre of lead in their blood was “obsolete”, and pointedto a finding of the US National Toxicology Program that detrimental effectswere possible even below 5 micrograms per decilitre – the current US thresholdfor treatment.
 
In a letter in the Medical Journal of Australia today,the specialists call for “legislation and standards ... to achieve blood leadlevels below 1 microgram per decilitre.”
The National Health & Medical Research Council isreviewing the effects of lead exposure and expects to issue advice later this year.
 
A spokesman said it would, "consider the [US] recommendations... on the health effects of lead, specifically at different levels ofexposure."
 
 How does lead get into a child's body?
 
Kids can take inlead by breathing or swallowing lead dust or by eating soil or paint chips thatcontain lead. Lead is not absorbed through the skin.
 
Drinking water(used to make formula and for cooking) is another source of lead, especially inolder homes. You can't see, smell, or taste the lead, and boiling the waterwon't eliminate it.
 
Even childrenwho aren't chewing on paint chips can get lead into their system if there'slead-based paint in or around their home or another building they spend timein.
 
Doors and windowframes covered with lead paint release tiny particles of lead dust into the airevery time they're opened or closed. Kids may breathe in this lead dust or pickit up on their hands when it settles on floors and furniture. Once the leaddust is on their hands, it's a quick trip to their mouth when they lick theirfingers or eat with their hands.
 
Pregnant women withelevated levels of lead in their blood can transfer lead to their unborn baby.
 
Where are children mostlikely to encounter lead?
 
Here are themost likely situations – and other sources of lead to watch out for. 
 
Living in anolder home: The age of yourhouse is an important factor. In general, the older your house is, the morelikely it is to have lead-based paint and the greater the amount of lead thepaint will have.
 
Older homes arealso more likely to have lead pipes, which can leach lead into water used fordrinking, making formula, and cooking. 
 
Spending timein or near any older building: Your child may also be at risk if he attends day-care or school in anolder building, plays in a yard near an older home that's being renovated, orfrequently visits a friend who lives in an older home.
 
Being near afreeway or industrial area:The lead that these sources have put into the air over time is likely to havecontaminated the soil nearby.
 
Carrying leadinto the house: People withcertain jobs and hobbies can inadvertently bring lead residue home on theirhands and clothing. If you work with stained glass or pottery, refinishfurniture, or visit indoor shooting ranges, be sure to change your clothes andwash your hands before returning home.
 
Other commonsources of lead:
 
·        Oldfurniture, playground equipment, and toys painted or varnished with alead-based product. (Repainting these items may not be enough to make them safe.The lead paint may have to be removed through a special process first or atleast be sealed in.)
 
·        Oldvinyl flooring
 
·        Oldplumbing – lead pipes, or copper pipes joined with lead solder
 
·        Olderor imported brass faucets
 
·        Brasskeys (Don't let your child play with any kind of keys.)
 
·        Leadcrystal glassware
 
·        Sometoy jewellery
 
·        Potterywith lead glaze (especially common in ceramics made in developing countries)
 
·        Importedfood in cans sealed with lead solder
 
·        Leadfishing weights
 
·        Oldbatteries
 
·        Somehobby materials (like stained glass supplies)
 
·        Someimported makeup (kohl, kajal, surma)
 
·        Factories(smelters, battery plants, foundries, incinerators)
 
Leadoccasionally pops up in unexpected places. Some candles have metal-cored wicksthat put unsafe amounts of lead into the air when you burn them, for example,so stick to candles with paper or cotton wicks.  
 
In 1996, the CDCdiscovered that some imported vinyl mini-blinds contained lead that had beenadded to stabilize the plastic. Government tests showed that some of theseblinds produced lead dust in dangerous amounts, and the blinds were withdrawnfrom the market. If your home contains non-glossy vinyl mini-blinds from 1996or earlier, you should think about replacing them
 
Should I have my child tested?
 
It might be a good idea,especially if you have concerns about his exposure – if you live in an olderhouse, for example, or a neighbour has been renovating an older house, or ifyour child attends day-care or school in an older building. The screening is a simpleblood test.
 
The American Academy of Paediatricsrecommends routine screening at age 1 and 2, unless you know for sure that yourchild hasn't been exposed. The CDC suggests that state and local healthofficials determine the appropriate screening criteria for their areas, so thatmore children who have been exposed to lead will be screened while children whoare less likely to have been exposed won't be screened unnecessarily.
 
Other groups – like theCoalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning and Healthy Child Healthy World –recommend testing annually beginning at age 1 until age 5 or 6.
 
The Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) recommends that children who are at risk for lead exposure betested at 6 months of age and then every six months until age 2 and thenannually until age 6.
 
Even if your child isn't atrisk, the EPA recommends testing at ages 1 and 2. After age 5 or 6, mostexperts don't recommend routine testing.
 
Talk with your child's doctorabout whether testing your child for lead is a good idea. If you have reason tosuspect that your child may have been exposed to lead, insist that he betested, regardless of his age.
 
What about acute lead poisoning?
 
Fortunately, acute leadpoisoning is rare. If you're aware of the sources of lead mentioned here andtake the appropriate precautions, the chances of your child developing aserious case of lead poisoning are quite low.
 
There are cases, however, inwhich a parent is unknowingly giving child doses of lead. Certain Hispanic andAsian folk remedies – like greta and azarcon, used to treat stomach upset, and pay-loo-ah, used for rash and fever – contain dangerous levels oflead, for example.
 
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?
 
A child may have no symptoms,even if he has unsafe levels of lead in his body.
 
If there are symptoms, theycan include fatigue or hyperactivity, irritability, aggressive behaviour,reduced attention span, loss of previous developmental skills, difficultysleeping, anaemia, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation,vomiting, headache, and problems with balance and motor control.
 
What's the treatment for lead poisoning in children?
 
A lead blood level greaterthan 10 micrograms/decilitre (mcg/dl) is unsafe. And a level higher than 45mcg/dl is considered very high.
 
If your child has an elevatedblood level, the doctor will take steps to help you identify and eliminatepossible sources of lead in his environment. Once your child's exposure isended, his body will slowly rid itself of lead.
 
The doctor may also recommenddietary changes to ensure that your child is getting adequate iron, calcium,and vitamin C, as well as foods that are low in fat. And your child will beretested periodically to make sure his lead levels are going down.
 
If the level of lead in yourchild's blood is very high, the doctor may recommend a treatment calledchelation therapy. Sometimes this therapy can be done orally, but it mayrequire hospitalization and IV medication.
 
  
How can I protect my child from lead?
 
Take these steps to protectyour child from lead poisoning:
 
·        Make sure he eatswell. If your child is well nourished, his body will be less likely to absorblead even if he's exposed to it. (Fried and fatty foods allow the body toabsorb lead faster.) It's particularly important to eat a diet that providesenough iron, calcium, protein, vitamin C, and zinc.
 
·        Keep your child'shands clean. Wash his hands – or teach him to wash his hands – several times aday, particularly when he comes in from playing outside and before eating ameal or snack (something you'll want to him to do anyway).
 
·        Keep your homeclean. Wipe up paint chips and dust with a disposable wet cloth and damp mopyour floors. If you're in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, consider onewith a HEPA filter. Not only will it trap lead dust particles, it'll clear theair of some possible allergens as well.
 
·        Make sure that yourchild's crib or bed, playpen, and toys don't have any peeling paint.
 
·        If your child is ababy or toddler, prevent him from chewing on painted surfaces, such aswindowsills, cribs, play yards, or furniture.
 
·        If your child goesto day-care or school, find out when the building was built and whether it hasbeen tested for the presence of lead. Do whatever's possible to provide himwith a lead-free day-care and school environment.
 
·        Test your tap waterand take steps to eliminate lead if necessary.
 
Food as medicine
 
Parsley and coriander(cilantro) are among the most famous of foods that chelate. Research shows thatparsley is extremely effective at removing mercury from the body as well asother toxic heavy metals. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and kalecontain antioxidants that increase the production of detoxifying enzymes in thebody. Garlic is also a great food for
oral chelation.
 
Make an appointment today to have an assessment done on your child's nutritional habits, and start to support his/her growing body and brain, in order to achieve their best development.
Ring:
(02) 96713867
0416073366
 
Sources:
6minutes
 
 
 

Categories: Brain Health, Children's Health, HEALTH CHECK - Tests, NUTRITION, Pregnancy

Post a Comment

Oops!

Oops, you forgot something.

Oops!

The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.

8 Comments

Reply inhatty
3:46 AM on April 12, 2022 
Uptqdd https://bestadalafil.com/ - tadalista vs cialis vendo viagra iquique Yavcnl Cialis Xlbjxy When the brace is off for any reason be careful not to move your knee more than you can when you have the brace on. https://bestadalafil.com/ - best price cialis
Reply Greermede
4:57 PM on August 30, 2022 
Injection in an infant to provide immunity. buy stromectol 24 mg pills Will Amoxicillin Help A Uti
Reply Walker
12:09 AM on October 22, 2022 
The hotheaded convicted killer who rammed an oar-wielding school
principal with his dinghy in a viral video has cooled down -
and says the bizarre incident was his fault.

John Frederick Dixon, a life parolee, was filmed in a screaming match on Tairua harbour with Catherine Browning,
now regrets his behaviour - which drew so much attention there was talk
of him returning to prison 33 years after being released.


'I made a d*** of myself, I lost my cool,' Dixon said.






The hotheaded boatie who rammed an oar-wielding school principal with his dinghy in a viral video
is John Frederick Dixon (pictured), a convicted
killer on life parole with 'severe anger issues'














Dixon explained to that boats had been speeding past the yacht he lives on with his partner, Christine, at Tairua
Harbour. Two went past so fast they knocked his
boat onto the dinghy and woke her up.

Dixon angrily jumped into the dinghy and chased one of them.


'I thought I'd give them some of their own medicine and see how they like it, so I did a few donuts,' he
said.  

'At the end of the day, it was my fault. I shouldn't have
done it, I was concerned about my life.'

Dixon was released from prison in 1987 after serving eight years in prison for murder. 

His unhinged recent behaviour so concerned New Zealand authorities that they requested he was recalled to
prison because he posed undue risk to public
safety.

Mr Dixon, now 58, was 16 when he bashed Joseph Hishon to death
after the man denied him a loan in Hamilton in 1978. 






RELATED ARTICLES


Previous

1

2

Next




Bizarre moment man in a deflating dinghy goes to war with an...
EXCLUSIVE: 'I do NOT need a mask!' Bunnings 'Karen' goes on...


Fresh twist in bizarre water dispute as oar-wielding woman...





Share this article

Share



Mr Hishon died from 'extensive head injuries' and had a
broken skull. 

Mr Dixon admitted punching and kicking the man's head after he refused to hand over
money for cigarettes and rent. 

At the trial it was reported Mr Dixon had severe anger issues and a personality disorder the reported. 

The video showed an enraged Dixon recklessly ramming his inflatable dinghy into an aluminium boat
after a dispute with another boatie, deputy school principal Catherine Browning.



The bizarre boat rage incident erupted on January 23
at the Tairua Harbour marina, a tourist destination on the Coromandel Peninsula famous for
kayaking and sailing.  






Tairua primary school's deputy principal Catherine Browning (pictured) swung her oar at Mr Dixon in the drama caught on video


'You rammed our boat and you spit at me, you piece of s**t,' Ms Browning said as Dixon approached her boat aggressively.



'You're a piece of s**t, you just caused $1000 worth of damage', Dixon shouted back. 

'What are you talking about?' Browning asked. 

'You drive past my boat, you rock it if you're not doing 5 knots,' Dixon screamed.


Ms Browning grabbed a wooden oar as Dixon angrily buzzed another mariner and swung it at him.


'There are children,' Ms Browning shouted. 'What do you think you're doing?' 

Dixon later told Stuff he didn't see the children, just a 'blabbermouth'. 

Ms Browning spoke to the , breaking down in tears from the pressure after the
video went global, escalating the incident to international news. 

She said the video only captured half of the incident with
the angry man originally targeting another boat in the drama that unfolded before the video started. 

'He came in at full speed attacking us, ramming us,' she said.


'He scared the s*** out of me and I had to defend myself.' 
















John Dixon (pictured left) can be seen in the video yelling at Catherine Browning before speeding off and circling back to ram her boat (pictured right) 


She was reportedly facing action from the school board
over her behaviour too.

But Stuff also reported no charges had been laid by police though
the incident was till under investigation.  

Ms Browning said that the impact of the sudden and unwelcome fame has left
her unable to sleep or eat.

'It's made my life a nightmare.' 







data-track-module="am-external-links^external-links"
Read more:



Boat rage incident: People are ignorant or arrogant or both, says
Tairua ferry operator - NZ Herald


Tairua boat-rage video man a convicted murderer on life parole - NZ Herald


'I lost my cool': Tairua man speaks out about boat rage incident | Stuff.co.nz






Panji Indonesia (research.ece.cmu.edu)
Reply inhaceDen
10:07 PM on December 24, 2022 
American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, et al buy cialis pills Small sample sizes are susceptible to random chance and small study bias 97 99

Categories

/
Lightbox image