Lead is a wonderful metal, is a normal constituent of earth’s crust, with trace
amounts found naturally in soil, plants and water. If left undisturbed
lead is practically immobile. However, once mined and transformed into man
made products, lead has become the most widely scattered toxic metal in
the world.
Lead
has many useful properties and is used in many products like paints, batteries,
in soldering metals, toys, cosmetics, fashion jewellery, cable sheath,
ceramic wares, and plastics, as shields in radiation labs and in X-ray
labs. The list is inexhaustive. Thus we find that modern man cannot have a
comfortable life without lead, if not handled properly he cannot live with lead
too.
Lead
enters our body through food, water, air and also through absorption from the
articles containing lead which are in contact with the skin. Lead
poisoning is dangerous in that it does not show striking symptoms and
could not be diagnosed at the early stage. Lead poisoning is slow and
cumulative killer. Lead, on entry into the body, will get absorbed and get
distributed to all tissues and finally accumulates in the bones .Lead
crosses the placental barrier and reaches the foetus. The fetus can be poisoned
before birth. It also crosses the blood-brain barrier in infants and damages
the central nervous system. Young children, infants and fetuses absorb lead faster
than adults. Lead has been proven to be a neurotoxin that can cause learning,
behavioral and language problems along with increased aggression and lowered IQ
in children. In adults it causes infertility, high B.P., loss of appetite,
paralysis, and swelling of brain, anemia and finally death. In pregnant women,
it causes pre-term delivery, low birth weight, still birth and miscarriage.
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 120 million people are
overexposed to lead (approximately 3 times the number infected by HIV/AIDS) and
99% of the most severely affected are in the developing world. Lead poisoning
is the most serious environmental threat to children and one of the most
significant contributors to occupational disease Developed countries like the
U.S., U.K. and Germany have taken aggressive steps to combact lead poisoning.
In developing countries actions have been slower and sporadic.
National
Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India, which is a joint venture of St.
John’s National Academy of Health Sciences and the George Foundation is working
towards creating awareness among people about the hazards of lead, uses and
misuses of lead.
An
inter-institutional volunteer programme has been mooted by NRCLPI under the
guidance of Dr.Thuppil Venkatesh, St. John’s Medical College in association
with national and state level governing bodies, wanted students to address
problems relating to communities and society in lessening pollution in air, water,
soil and create a more aware and healthier society. Hence NRCLPI has been
sponsoring “PROJECT LEAD FREE” in 15 different colleges in Bangalore. Apart
from this it is has also conducted workshops on “Prevention of Lead Poisoning
(LEADer- Lead Educator Programme) for school, college teachers and also
students.
A
few of our college students with Dr.C.K.Mythily of Chemistry department, as
project co-ordinator have taken up a short term students research project “LEAD
IN COSMETICS AND IN FASHION JEWELLERY”.
Our
survey through net has revealed that many of the cosmetics like lipsticks, hair
dyes, kohls, mascara, kajals, surma, sindoor, nail polishes etc. contain lead. The
lipsticks which adds a naturalluscious color to lips contain lead (colourant). Reports
about lipstick containing lead are flooding the media, since the Campaign for
Safe Cosmetics conducted a survey in U.S. and found that 61% contained lead
ranging from .03 to 0.065 ppm. One study estimates that average women consumes
4 to 6 pounds of lipsticks a year, from licking her lips and eating it with
food. Lead builds up in the body overtime and lead containing lipsticks applied
several times a day , every day ,can add upto significant exposure level.
Dyeing of hair to look younger is more common a practice among women, men and
also among youngsters (hair colouring). Lead acetate is used as a colourant in
hair dyes.
Kohl
is worn for a variety of reasons including tradition, beautification, to ward
off evil eye, to protect against eye ailments, to get relief from the glare of
the sun is found to contain large proportions of galena (ore of lead) and
stibnite. Lead and antimony in kohl are toxic and kill bacteria transmitted by
flies and contaminated water. However the toxins can enter the bloodstream of
the user and cause chronic health problems. Sometimes in babies it has caused infant
death due to lead poisoning. Lead levels in commercial kohl preparation have
been found to be as high as 84%.
There
is no strict rules and regulations laid down by any government to control or
check the lead content in cosmetics. The cosmetic industry needs to clean up
its act and remove lead and other toxic ingredients from its products.
The
aim of our project is to create awareness among the general public about the
presence of lead in cosmetics and in fashion jewellery. We have collected
samples from local markets which middle class people would frequently buy .The
samples have been submitted for analysis .
We,
the women force of India should be aware of lead poisoning as we pass this
toxin to our unborn babies also Lead poisoning to a very large extent is a
preventable condition. Awareness along with precautionary measures can
alleviate this condition and can help create a “LEAD-SAFE” ENVIRONMENT.
LEARNING
FOR BETTER LIVING
The
levels of lead in the blood may increase if
1)
The diet is too low or too high in protein
2)
The diet is too high in fats
3)
The diet is too low in calcium
4)
The diet is low in iron
5)
The diet is low in zinc
Hence
eat a balanced diet
Offer
regular meals and snacks to your children. This can help reduce their changes
of having high blood lead levels.
Lead
safe environment at home –What you can do
1)
Reduce dust at home –Don’t sweep but wet-wash floors, seal cracks, vents and
stop dust accumulating. Vaccum clean regularly. Remove shoes at the door.
2)
Keep kids’ play areas safe. Let not the play areas of kids be bare. Put grass
or plants over or near it. Wash kids’ toys, pets clean.
3) Make
sure children wash hands and faces before they eat or have a nap.
3) Check
for peeling or deteriorating paint in your home if it was built before 1970.
4) Wash
your hands, face and hair and change your clothes immediately when get back
from your work place.
- Dr. C. K. Mythily,
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
Bangalore
