It is the inability to see the effects of chronic, low level toxicities on human health that has been,
and remains, our greatest failing as intelligent beings.
Dr. Boyd Haley
EPA Administrator Michael Regan warned about the effects of humans drinking water from lead pipes, saying, “There is no safe level. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer.”
In May, the administration announced $3 billion to replace toxic lead pipes in Wilmington, North Carolina. As many as 9 million homes, many of which are in underprivileged neighborhoods, receive water coming from lead pipes, according to the EPA.
The Romans were aware that lead could cause serious health problems, even madness and death. However, they were so fond of its diverse uses that they minimized the hazards it posed. What they did not realize was that their everyday, low-level exposure to the metal rendered them vulnerable to chronic lead poisoning, even while it spared them the full horrors of acute lead poisoning.
Roman engineers, in the end, brought down the Roman Empire when they replaced their stone aqueducts with lead pipes for the transport and supply of drinking water, thus turning much of the Roman population into neurological cripples.
The prolonged effects of low-grade concentrations of toxic substances depend on individual susceptibility,” says Professor I.M. Trakhtenberg from the former Soviet Union. Doctors cannot see these effects, which makes them continue to expose their patients to the harmful effects of radiation and toxic drugs.
Atmospheric Lead Pollution
Lead (Pb) emissions into the atmosphere from anthropogenic sources have attracted attention due to lead’s high toxicity and associated human health and environmental impacts. Coal-fired power plants are considered to be an important anthropogenic lead emission source. There is no doubt that atmospheric lead (Pb) pollution has adverse health effects on humans. After phasing out of leaded gasoline, we find that children’s blood lead level strongly correlates with the lead concentration in atmospheric particles, and the latter correlates with coal consumption instead of leaded gasoline.
Lead and Heart Disease
Lead poisoning is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. There is more than sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between lead exposure and hypertension. Studies have consistently shown that chronic lead exposure is associated with elevated blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Lead exposure has been linked to various clinical cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.
Some studies suggest that even low blood lead levels (<5 µg/dL) can be associated with increased cardiovascular risks, indicating no safe threshold for lead exposure exists.
Large population studies have indicated that chronic exposure to low levels of lead contributes significantly to the burden of cardiovascular disease and mortality.
For instance, a study found that higher blood lead levels were associated with an increased risk of carotid plaque formation in individuals with diabetes.
Mechanisms of Action:
Oxidative Stress: Lead increases oxidative stress, leading to endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage.
Inflammation: Chronic exposure to lead can promote systemic inflammation, contributing to atherosclerosis.
Altered Cardiac Function: Lead exposure has been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and other abnormalities in cardiac function.
Conclusion
The evidence suggests that even low levels of lead can have detrimental effects on cardiovascular health, highlighting the need for ongoing public health efforts to reduce lead exposure in populations at risk.