Evaluation of calcium-fortified municipal water as a public health intervention to mitigate lead burdens

Lead has adverse effects on health, society, and the economy. Lead exposure results in increased blood lead levels and storage in bones. Calcium and lead are competitively absorbed and as such calcium can be used to mitigate the body lead burden. Twenty-eight quantitative research studies were reviewed that examined lead exposure (in blood, bone, or breastmilk) and calcium intake or serum calcium to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fortifying potable water supplies with calcium to mitigate lead absorption or resorption. Eighteen of the studies reported a significant inverse relationship between biomarker lead levels and calcium intake or serum calcium. The relationship was most evident with high calcium intake, suggesting a dose-dependent relationship. An intervention with calcium-fortified water could offer an accessible source of supplemental calcium to help meet the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and mitigate lead absorption. A concentration of 60 mg-Ca/L can supply 22.0 and 16.3% of a 1,000 mg-Ca RDA for men and women, respectively, at the recommended daily water intake.

Absorption Capacity of Copper and Lead in the Case of Phragmites Australis Plant Species

The main objective of the current research is to determine the absorption capacity of heavy metals (copper and lead) in the case of Phragmites Australis plant species (root, stalk, leaf, flower). The plant samples was taken from the Moldova and Siret Rivers, belonging to the Siret hydrographic basin, respectively upstream of Roman city, Romania-Siret River, downstream Roman city -Moldova River, downstream confluence Moldova/Siret- Siret River and Dragesti-Siret River. A high absorption capacity of copper was recorded, in the case of Phragmites Australis plant species (especially in the root of the plant for all point analysed). A very higher absorption capacity of lead was recorded, in the flower, in the case of Phragmites Australis plant species (1.45÷39.56 mg/kg dry matter) for all point analysed. Keywords: copper, lead, absorption capacity, Phragmites Australis