Lead, Lead everywhere

Today, I want to talk about other sources of lead. Lead was used in gasoline, paint, and pesticides for years and is everywhere in our environment. Different government agencies like the CDC, EPA, and FDA have set "acceptable" limits for the different things they oversee, but lead builds up in the body. While the lead in your lipstick or apple juice may be a small amount by itself, it all adds up and gets stored in your body. I try to minimize our exposure to known lead sources. It is impossible to avoid lead entirely. It just is, because it is in the soil and water and even an organic apple has trace amounts of lead. It is possible to educate yourself and greatly reduce your overall lead exposure.

Here are some every day items to watch our for:

Lipstick:
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm137224.htm#q3
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/400-lipstick-brands-contain-lead-fda-says/2012/02/14/gIQAhOyeDR_story.html
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3722013

Apple Juice (even some organic brands):
http://www.safbaby.com/lead-found-in-organic-and-non-organic-juices-and-baby-food
http://news.consumerreports.org/safety/2011/11/consumer-reports-tests-juices-for-arsenic-and-lead.html

Toys:
http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/recalls/
http://news.consumerreports.org/safety/2011/11/toy-recalls-and-lead-violations-are-down-but-180000-child-injuries-a-year-is-too-high-cpsc-says.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html (includes all toy recalls)

Other kids' drink and snacks
http://www.inhabitots.com/85-of-kids-drinks-snacks-could-contain-high-levels-of-lead/

Dishes, tableware:
*important note - heat increases the amount of lead that is leached into food.
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=12465018
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/CLPPB/Pages/TalkPts-ltw.aspx
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/Metals/Lead/ucm233281.htm
http://healthvermont.gov/family/toolkit/tools/Finding%20Lead%20In%20Your%20Home_web.pdf

Older porcelain or enamel bath tubs and sinks:
*important note - hot water increases the amount of lead leached by these older tubs and sinks
http://aestheticsolutionsofidaho.com/lead.htm
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead/doc/Porcelain%20and%20Ceramic2.pdf
http://healthvermont.gov/family/toolkit/tools/Finding%20Lead%20In%20Your%20Home_web.pdf

Plumbing pipes, faucets, and fixtures:
*Brass plumbing contains lead.
http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/04water/html/Lead_Faucets.htm
From the above link:
Most faucets purchased prior to 1997 were constructed of brass or chrome-plated brass, which contain up to 8 percent lead. *this is important because most people believe that if their house was built after the 1970's, lead is not a concern.
http://www.copper.org/applications/industrial/lowlead.html
http://scienceblog.com/40142/study-shows-brass-devices-in-plumbing-systems-can-create-serious-lead-in-water-problems/
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/xp-29130

These are just some of the sources of lead that we can come in contact with every day. Please be aware and do what you can to minimize these especially for your children who are much more vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead.