I will have two postings today. First, here is another contributed article from Jenny Redding:
One of America’s top senators is raising questions about the issue of lead contamination and fall out from one of Ohio’s former factory sites. Sherrod Brown (left) is asking for Environmental Officials to step up to the plate and find out what, if anything is being done to protect families who live close to the site of the Tyroler Metals Lead Smelter, which is situated in Cleveland. Alongside this he has also expressed concern about sixteen other sites within the state of Ohio which are providing a significant risk not only to home and landowners, but also to the surrounding environment, flora and fauna.
Worrying Times
The Tyroler Metals site had been highlighted in the past as a potential area of risk. Previous Government administrations had failed to take any action to stop the fallout and contamination, despite being repeatedly presented with information and facts regarding the adverse effect on the health of the people living in the area, including small children. Lead contamination, even at the lowest exposures is known to have significant damaging and lasting effects on the overall health of humans and animals.
In a study conducted by Amy J Pearse and Mary C Mitchell for Columbus University, Ohio, which you can read in full here, physical and mental health problems were widespread amongst those who had had some exposure to lead contamination. Physical illnesses such as kidney damage and mental issues such as learning disabilities and a lower IQ were also prevalent amongst small children whose mothers had been exposed to lead contamination in the earlier stages of pregnancy. According to Pearse and Mitchell there is currently “no safe” lower limit of lead contamination, with even the smallest particle proving a risk factor for exposure.
Tyroler Metals Site
This particular plant was operational in Cleveland for some thirty years between about 1927 and 1957 (as were most of the original smelting factories within the United States). As recently as 2003, when testing took place there was still a very high level of lead within the soil, which raised concerns that houses built near the area could form part of a “fall-out zone”. Though at the time consternation was expressed, residents of the area were not warned and further to that no hint of a “clean up” ever happened. Families who have now been made aware of what has been going on are understandably angry that they were not informed earlier of any risks to them and their property.
Children who go out to play in areas that have lead contaminated soil and, for instance, touch their mouths after without washing their hands risk ingesting even small amounts of lead which can become poisonous to their still developing systems.
When a lead smelting plant such as the one at Tyroler Metals Site are in operation the soil in and around the area of the plant automatically becomes contaminated by lead particles which churn out from the chimneys of the factories. The particles of lead will stay in the first few inches of the soil for lengthy periods of time; it’s estimated sometimes for hundreds of years – even if the soil eventually becomes cultivated, there are still issues regarding contamination.
Not the only place
Tyroler Metals is far from the only place that is affected by this environmental disaster. According to USA Today, there could be as many as two hundred and thirty potential other abandoned factory sites that pose a risk to the health of humans. A full list of those suspected can be found here. By selecting on the particular State you live in, you can see if any of this may possibly affect or have ramifications upon yourself and your family. This of course, could have a detrimental impact on being able to ascertain the correct type of holiday cover when you go to compare travel insurance, for instance or when you try to arrange health cover for you or a loved one. Companies may not be willing to pay out if a condition such as pre-existing kidney damage caused by lead contamination has occurred and you did not know.
Government guidelines recognise that anything equivalent to or higher than ten micrograms constitutes lead poisoning in the human body. Current studies indicate that as many as two thousand seven hundred people in Ohio are newly diagnosed with lead poisoning. One thousand eight hundred of those are children. A revision of the Government guidelines has been mooted, with campaigners wanting to reduce the level of ten micrograms to five micrograms.
USA Today has been campaigned vociferously on this issue for some time now, and has been compiling a comprehensive dossier of events within the state of Ohio. Full details of their investigations can be accessed and read by clicking on the following link: USA Today. One thing is for sure, this is an issue which will certainly not be going away any time soon. Watch this space for further updates.
What's this? Not sure...but is featured in her blog site.
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Worrying Times
The Tyroler Metals site had been highlighted in the past as a potential area of risk. Previous Government administrations had failed to take any action to stop the fallout and contamination, despite being repeatedly presented with information and facts regarding the adverse effect on the health of the people living in the area, including small children. Lead contamination, even at the lowest exposures is known to have significant damaging and lasting effects on the overall health of humans and animals.
In a study conducted by Amy J Pearse and Mary C Mitchell for Columbus University, Ohio, which you can read in full here, physical and mental health problems were widespread amongst those who had had some exposure to lead contamination. Physical illnesses such as kidney damage and mental issues such as learning disabilities and a lower IQ were also prevalent amongst small children whose mothers had been exposed to lead contamination in the earlier stages of pregnancy. According to Pearse and Mitchell there is currently “no safe” lower limit of lead contamination, with even the smallest particle proving a risk factor for exposure.
Tyroler Metals Site
This particular plant was operational in Cleveland for some thirty years between about 1927 and 1957 (as were most of the original smelting factories within the United States). As recently as 2003, when testing took place there was still a very high level of lead within the soil, which raised concerns that houses built near the area could form part of a “fall-out zone”. Though at the time consternation was expressed, residents of the area were not warned and further to that no hint of a “clean up” ever happened. Families who have now been made aware of what has been going on are understandably angry that they were not informed earlier of any risks to them and their property.
Children who go out to play in areas that have lead contaminated soil and, for instance, touch their mouths after without washing their hands risk ingesting even small amounts of lead which can become poisonous to their still developing systems.
When a lead smelting plant such as the one at Tyroler Metals Site are in operation the soil in and around the area of the plant automatically becomes contaminated by lead particles which churn out from the chimneys of the factories. The particles of lead will stay in the first few inches of the soil for lengthy periods of time; it’s estimated sometimes for hundreds of years – even if the soil eventually becomes cultivated, there are still issues regarding contamination.
Not the only place
Tyroler Metals is far from the only place that is affected by this environmental disaster. According to USA Today, there could be as many as two hundred and thirty potential other abandoned factory sites that pose a risk to the health of humans. A full list of those suspected can be found here. By selecting on the particular State you live in, you can see if any of this may possibly affect or have ramifications upon yourself and your family. This of course, could have a detrimental impact on being able to ascertain the correct type of holiday cover when you go to compare travel insurance, for instance or when you try to arrange health cover for you or a loved one. Companies may not be willing to pay out if a condition such as pre-existing kidney damage caused by lead contamination has occurred and you did not know.
Government guidelines recognise that anything equivalent to or higher than ten micrograms constitutes lead poisoning in the human body. Current studies indicate that as many as two thousand seven hundred people in Ohio are newly diagnosed with lead poisoning. One thousand eight hundred of those are children. A revision of the Government guidelines has been mooted, with campaigners wanting to reduce the level of ten micrograms to five micrograms.
USA Today has been campaigned vociferously on this issue for some time now, and has been compiling a comprehensive dossier of events within the state of Ohio. Full details of their investigations can be accessed and read by clicking on the following link: USA Today. One thing is for sure, this is an issue which will certainly not be going away any time soon. Watch this space for further updates.
What's this? Not sure...but is featured in her blog site.
-
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