Is Lead Good Or Bad

Lead is a bluish gray element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. It could be toxic to humans as well as animals but it has some beneficial uses. Lead essentially occurs, majority of the environmental lead are from the human activities such as burning of fossil fuels, mining and manufacturing. (B.T. Johnson, 1997). In drinking water, lead can be present, through lead containing pipe corrosion during water transporting system it is commonly happen when the water has low mineral content or slightly acidic.
Lead acquire in soil and water bodies where most of our food came from. Soil may be contaminated from lead gasoline and insecticides. Fruits and vegetables that are cultivate from lead contaminated soil ingested, gets inside our body system and causes harm in our health. Water bodies’ organism such as phytoplankton which is eaten by the large sea creatures and important source of production of oxygen in the sea could be interrupted when lead intervenes creating lead pollution. (Lenntech B.V., 1998-2017)
Food containers could also have lead that will go through in our food.
Imported food products from other countries may contain high quantity of lead. Example of it are canned goods and candies. It is safe not to store food in open imported cans to lessen the exposure of lead in the food. Candy wrappers may contain higher than the prescribe amount of lead level by the food and drug authorities. Lead in the wrappers may move out to the candy and be ingested, other entry is through the skin.
Lead build up in single organisms, it has no vital role in human body though it could bring harm after ingested from water, air or food. Some of the health effects of lead are the following:
- Decreases kidney function
- Brain damage
- Anemia
- Hypertension
- Abortion and premature birth
- Behavioral problems and