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Pages:
3 pages/β‰ˆ825 words
Sources:
4 Sources
Style:
APA
Subject:
Health, Medicine, Nursing
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 12.96
Topic:

Toxicity of Lead Response. Important Toxicities and Lead Exposure

Essay Instructions:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has to make decisions about thresholds with the purpose of identifying which materials are toxic.
The EPA has to decide, based on a particular toxicity, a limit of exposure to protect people (i.e., safe dose). For example, if more than 10 percent of tap water samples exceed the lead action level of 15 parts per billion, then water systems are required to take additional actions to lower the lead level in the water. How do you think the EPA came up with 15 parts per billion in tap water as the threshold for toxicity? We will try to answer this question in this assignment.
For this assignment:
Study the toxicity of lead (e.g., https://www(dot)epa(dot)gov/lead). List all of the important toxicities associated with lead exposure.
Discuss which health effect or symptom you would use as a basis to establish the baseline toxicity of lead in regards to regulating lead in the tap water. In other words, which particular health effect should be used to quantify the risk of lead exposure? Keep in mind that lead is a multiorgan toxicant that can damage various functions in the body. What is your reasoning for using this health effect to establish the threshold (i.e., 15 parts per billion of lead in tap water)?
What type of testing might you conduct to establish the threshold for lead in tap water (i.e., how did the EPA come up with 15 parts per billion as the threshold for toxicity?)?
What assumptions do you think exist in deriving the safe level, or threshold, for human exposure from the tests you discussed in the previous question?
You have two options for completing this assignment. You may record and upload a video response (five minutes or less) addressing the questions, or you may write a three-page response to the questions (excluding cover page and reference page), following current APA formatting for written assignments.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Toxicity of Lead Response
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation
Toxicity of Lead Response
Introduction
Lead is a hazardous agent which can damage human organs. Exposure to lead must be avoided as its toxicity can have a serious impact on health. The exposure to lead can be through water, food and surrounding means through air pollution. Lead exposure can cause a list of toxicities. The level of exposure depends upon the concentration of lead. In the USA the government agency which regulates the process of minimizing lead exposure is (EPA) environmental protection agency. The role of EPA is to minimize the exposure of lead by taking measures in their capacity.
Discussion
Important Toxicities and Lead Exposure
Lead toxicity is considered a disease in developed countries like the US and Canada. It is impossible to avoid lead completely as it is found in the environment abundantly. The main source of lead exposure is by ingesting it through food and water. It has been estimated that almost 20% of lead poisoning happens through waterborne. Children are at higher risk because they consume more water as their bodies are developing and they require more water hence lead accumulates more in their bodies (Oram, 2019). These figures require serious measures to be taken by EPA.
Symptom, Baseline Toxicity of Lead and Tap Water
Lead toxicity or poisoning can cause various serious symptoms that vary from person to person. In some people, they might have high levels of lead but they will show no symptoms. Organic lead is more dangerous than non-organic. The level of lead in blood from 25-60 ug/dl triggers a psychiatric response. The person shows poor motor skills with delayed reactions along with irritability and headache (Wani, Ara & Usmani, 2015). Children and fetuses are at higher risk of lead poison as there are adverse effects of lead at 25 ug/dl in a fetus. The reason for Lead in tap water is due to lead pipelines. The EPA surveyed in Chicago in 2011 and 2012 (EPA, 2019). They tested the presence of lead in tap water and the results indicate high levels of lead and copper in areas where there is the use of lead service lines. There are even higher levels of lead where there are disturbing service lines.
Health Effect and Quantification of Lead Exposure
The maximum exposure of lead is through the consumption of food and water containing lead. The absorption rate of orally consuming lead is 20-70% and it is even higher in children. The pharmaceutical companies have set a maximum safe intake of lead which is 1.0 ug/g. this limit can also harm if used for a long period (Wani, Ara & Usmani, 2015). Lead can have its toxic effects over renal, nervous and reproductive functions. A high level of lead can damage the cardiovascular system and immune system. Lead is non-biodegradable therefore it bio-accumulates in the body. 
Effect of Lead on Environmental Health
           The presence of lead in the atmosphere can also be lethal. The exposure to environmental lead is the leading cause of respiratory, neurological, and cardiovascular disorders. It causes the inflammation of various organs (Boskabady et al., 2018). The presence of lead in the atmosphere also causes behavi...
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