Essay On Lead Contamination

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Groundwater Contaminant: Lead (Pb)
Lead is a naturally occurring metal used in various industrial goods from pipes, paints, and well linings. Lead is a greyish heavy metal that is harmful if swallowed or breathed in. Lead can be handled without gloves, but should be limited and a thorough hand cleaning is needed afterwards 1. Lead originates from the Greek word “Protos”, which means first 2. Lead is known to be introduced into groundwater by contact with old lead pipes, runoff of lead based paint, leaded gasoline leakage, and automobile air emissions 3. Lead poisoning can greatly affect people such as “brain and nervous system damage, and particularly mental development impairment in children; reproductive system interference including effects such as premature infant and low births; circulatory system damage such as O2 absorption decrease and increase in blood pressure; and kidneys malfunctioning” (Kinder, 1997) 4. Lead contamination can be found anywhere lead is used or refined. As it is a naturally occurring metal, lead tends to seep into the ground easily with the assistance of water and its abundant use in manufacturing. Lead is transported into the system mainly by leeching by contact into the water source by older lead pipes, fittings, and various lead lined containers 5. Currently there is no other viable way to remove lead contamination from groundwater other than to pump and treat either in mass quantities or through reverse osmosis, distillation, or carbon filters 6. The main course of action and most reliable is to remove the source of the lead from contact with water 7. …show more content…

Lead Contamination In Our Environment, 1997 http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/7/97.07.05.x.html#b
2 Bentor, Yinon. Chemical Element.com - Lead. Mar. 4, 2016

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