[For those people receiving this who are not in the Lead Poisoned Adults
Egroup (LPAE), please refer to the email below which inspired this
investigation of possible answers, which itself raises important questions
for everyone receiving this email.]
I am starting to believe that the best answer to the perennial question of
whether the damage lead has done to an individual is permanent or whether
some symptoms are reversible, is to ask another question: what is your known
or likely cumulative blood lead index plus what are the other health risks
you have acquired by dint of your family medical history, your upbringing
and lifetime exposures to other harbingers of ill-health?
To explain the concept of your known or likely cumulative blood lead index,
there are precious few references because the science of predicting health
effects in an individual is dependent on the science of epidemiology which
has a hard enough time determining risks across a whole population of people
whose blood lead levels (or bone lead levels) are measured either once or
over a period of time (as in longitudinal studies). The unfortunate fact of
the matter is that, especially for people outside the USA, known cumulative
blood lead indices are extremely rare and would normally only be able to be
calculated for lead exposed workers IF the lead-exposed worker is fortunate
enough to work for a company that actually complies with OH&S regulations
which demand workers blood lead monitoring data be kept AND the company is
prepared to release the results to the worker even if the worker is retired
or has left.
The cumulative blood lead index is measured in ug-years/dL. A ug year/dL in
lead exposure is one microgram of lead per decilitre of blood for a period
of one year. The recent mini-monograph in the March 2007 Environmental
Health Perspectives included the article "Adult Lead Exposure: Time for
Change" by Brian S. Schwartz and Howard Hu (see
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/9782/9782.pdf) and concludes (in
part):
"The growing body of scientific evidence suggests that occupational
standards should limit recent dose to prevent the acute effects of lead and
separately limit cumulative dose to prevent the chronic effects of lead."
"We would favor limits that keep blood lead levels < 20 ug/dL to prevent the
acute effects of recent dose. For the prevention of the chronic health
effects of cumulative dose, the available evidence suggests (snip)
maintaining the cumulative blood lead index below approximately 200-400
ug-years/dL (equivalent to an average blood lead level of 20 ug/dL for 10-20
years or of 10 ug/dL for 20-40 years).
The question which arises is: which among the Australian lead mining
companies and state and federal OH&S regulatory bodies in the US and
Australia are going to incorporate this new recommendation into their policy
or regulations?
I am very keen to hear from anyone who has the power to do so.
Regards
Yours Sincerely
Elizabeth O'Brien, Manager, Global Lead Advice & Support Service
PO Box 161 Summer Hill NSW 2130 Australia
Ph +61 2 9716 0132
www.lead.org.au

----- Original Message -----
From: "brindle222"
To: <LPAE@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 9:40 AM
Subject: [LPAE] Newest member


In June of 2006 I was diagnosed with lead and mercury poisoning, by a
provoked 24 urine test. Since September I have had 21 EDTA one hour
chelation IV's. I do feel better, but I can't find any answers as to
whether there is permanent damage and/or will I ever feel normal again,
if I can remember what normal is. I have been sick since I turned 60
and I will be 68 in a few days. In 2003 I had to retire, because I no
longer could funtion more than 2 days a week. My lead count was 48 in
June and it is now down to 8. The mercury seems to have cleared. Any
information would be greatly appreciated.



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