scholarly journals Under-Sink Activated Carbon Water Filters Effectively Remove Lead from Private Well Water for over Six Months

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3584
Author(s):  
Riley Mulhern ◽  
Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Well Water ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Metals Removal ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Minimal Data ◽  
Water Filters ◽  
Private Wells

Children who rely on private well water in the United States have been shown to be at greater risk of having elevated blood lead levels. Evidence-based solutions are needed to prevent drinking water lead exposure among private well users, but minimal data are available regarding the real-world effectiveness of available interventions like point-of-use water treatment for well water. In this study, under-sink activated carbon block water filters were tested for lead and other heavy metals removal in an eight-month longitudinal study in 17 homes relying on private wells. The device removed 98% of all influent lead for the entirety of the study, with all effluent lead levels less than 1 µg/L. Profile sampling in a subset of homes showed that the faucet fixture is a significant source of lead leaching where well water is corrosive. Flushing alone was not capable of reducing first-draw lead to levels below 1 µg/L, but the under-sink filter was found to increase the safety and effectiveness of faucet flushing. The results of this study can be used by individual well users and policymakers alike to improve decision-making around the use of under-sink point-of-use devices to prevent disproportionate lead exposures among private well users.

scholarly journals Blood lead level and risk of hypertension in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2016

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Fung Tsoi ◽  
Chris Wai Hang Lo ◽  
Tommy Tsang Cheung ◽  
Bernard Man Yung Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Lead Exposure ◽  
Blood Lead Level ◽  
Lead Level ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Environmental Lead ◽  
Lead Levels

AbstractLead is a heavy metal without a biological role. High level of lead exposure is known to be associated with hypertension, but the risk at low levels of exposure is uncertain. In this study, data from US NHANES 1999–2016 were analyzed. Adults with blood lead and blood pressure measurements, or self-reported hypertension diagnosis, were included. If not already diagnosed, hypertension was defined according to the AHA/ACC 2017 hypertension guideline. Results were analyzed using R statistics version 3.5.1 with sample weight adjustment. Logistic regression was used to study the association between blood lead level and hypertension. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated. Altogether, 39,477 participants were included. Every doubling in blood lead level was associated with hypertension (OR [95%CI] 1.45 [1.40–1.50]), which remained significant after adjusting for demographics. Using quartile 1 as reference, higher blood lead levels were associated with increased adjusted odds of hypertension (Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1: 1.22 [1.09–1.36]; Quartile 3 vs. Quartile 1: 1.15 [1.04–1.28]; Quartile 2 vs. Quartile 1: 1.14 [1.05–1.25]). In conclusion, blood lead level is associated with hypertension in the general population with blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL. Our findings suggest that reducing present levels of environmental lead exposure may bring cardiovascular benefits by reducing blood pressure.

Lead Levels, Home Dust, and Proximity to Lead Smelters

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-603
Author(s):  
Philip J. Landrigan
Keyword(s):  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Elevated Blood ◽  
Lead Smelter ◽  
Soil Lead ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Elevated Blood Lead Levels

The article by Kimbrough et al (Pediatrics. 1995;95:550-554) concerning a survey of blood lead levels among children residing near a closed, heavily contaminated lead smelter found that 78 of 490 preschoolers (16%) had blood lead levels at or above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention action level of 10 µg/dL. By contrast, the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels among all preschool children in the United States is 8.9%.1 Kimbrough et al found that blood lead levels were positively correlated with home dust lead levels, soil lead levels, hours of outdoor play, and levels of lead in indoor paint.

Cognitive and Behavioral Manifestations of Lead

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh L. Evans
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Conduct Disorders ◽  
Lead Content ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Toxic Exposure ◽  
Postnatal Exposure ◽  
Household Dust ◽  
Lead Levels

The link between exposure to lead and children’s cognitive problems was implied in the earliest medical reports of frank lead poisoning of young children in Australia in the 1800s (Lin-Fu 1992). Children with acute severe toxicity of lead (Pb) are now rarely seen in the United States. However, millions of children may have subclinical neurobehavioral disorders associated with chronic low-level exposure to lead, representing a major public health concern (Bellinger 2008a). Lead is a nonessential metal that is recognized as a source of toxic exposure, with the developing nervous system particularly vulnerable. Because of this, U.S. regulations limiting the lead content of gasoline and household paint have led to a gradual reduction of the average blood lead concentration of Americans over the last three decades. Average blood lead levels of children in the United States dropped an estimated 78% from 1976 to 1991 (Brody et al. 1994; Caldwell et al. 2009). Despite these reductions in exposure to lead, new advances in research techniques have documented harmful consequences associated with lower blood lead levels. This raises the possibility that there is no threshold for occurrence of lead-induced toxicity. Bellinger (2008a) refers to “the silent pandemic of neurodevelopmental disorders resulting from children’s continuing exposure to low levels of lead.” The developing brain may be more sensitive to exposure to lead than the adult. Since the pioneering work of Needleman and colleagues (1979), a large scientific literature has documented the deleterious effects of pre- and neonatal exposure to lead. Decrements in IQ scores have proven to be among the most sensitive and consistent consequences of a child’s exposure to lead, but other cognitive and behavioral changes have been described as well, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Among the important current sources of children’s exposure to lead is household dust (Dixon et al. 2009) the lead content in old water pipes, batteries, and from contamination by numerous industrial processes. Pre and postnatal exposure to cigarette smoke is a cofactor with lead exposure in children’s conduct disorders (Braun et al. 2008). Diagnosis of lead-induced disorders involves the determination of exposure to lead and the atomic absorption assay of lead in whole blood.

scholarly journals Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Blood Lead Levels among Mexican-American Children and Adolescents in the United States

2005 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 448-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo S. Morales ◽  
Peter Gutierrez ◽  
Jose J. Escarce
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Mexican American Youth ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
American Children

Objective. This study was designed to assess demographic and socioeconomic differences in blood lead levels (BLLs) among Mexican-American children and adolescents in the United States. Methods. We analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994, for 3,325 Mexican-American youth aged 1 to 17 years. The main study outcome measures included a continuous measure (μg/dL) of BLL and two dichotomous measures of BLL (⩾5 μg/dL and ⩾10 μg/dL). Results. The mean BLL among Mexican-American children in the United States was 3.45 μg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.07, 3.87); 20% had BLL ⩾5 μg/dL (95% CI 15%, 24%); and 4% had BLL ⩾10 μg/dL (95% CI 2%, 6%). In multivariate analyses, gender, age, generational status, home language, family income, education of head of household, age of housing, and source of drinking water were statistically significant independent predictors ( p<0.05) of having higher BLLs and of having BLL ⩾5 μg/dL, whereas age, family income, housing age, and source of drinking water were significant predictors ( p<0.05) of having BLL ⩾10 μg/dL. Conclusions. Significant differences in the risk of having elevated BLLs exist among Mexican-American youth. Those at greatest risk should be prioritized for lead screening and lead exposure abatement interventions.

Declines in adult blood lead levels in New York City compared with the United States, 2004–2014

2018 ◽  
Vol 163 ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Feinberg ◽  
Wendy McKelvey ◽  
Paromita Hore ◽  
Rania Kanchi ◽  
Patrick J. Parsons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
York City ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Lead Levels

scholarly journals Housing Assistance and Blood Lead Levels: Children in the United States, 2005–2012

2016 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2049-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Ahrens ◽  
Barbara A. Haley ◽  
Lauren M. Rossen ◽  
Patricia C. Lloyd ◽  
Yutaka Aoki
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Housing Assistance ◽  
Lead Levels

scholarly journals The microbial colonization of activated carbon block point-of-use (PoU) filters with and without chlorinated phenol disinfection by-products

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 830-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Chen Wu ◽  
Sudeshna Ghosh ◽  
Kelly J. Martin ◽  
Ameet J. Pinto ◽  
Vincent J. Denef ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Bacterial Community Structure ◽  
Microbial Colonization ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Absolute Abundance ◽  
Carbon Block ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Water Filters ◽  
By Products

Activated carbon based point-of-use drinking water filters change the bacterial community structure and increase the absolute abundance of genera, including those associated with opportunistic pathogens.

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