I wonder if you could analyze internet discussions for an effect.

  • A_A@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Lead was a much bigger problem in the 1970 when it was in road vehicles fuels. But now its only use in some small plane fuels. There is also much less use of lead paint and lead in water pipe systems.
    N.B. : Study in that article is about decline from 2010 until today in 15-year-olds.

    • Drusas@fedia.io
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      2 days ago

      I remember still having to ask for unleaded gas, and that was in the '90s. Plenty of houses still have lead paint and lead pipes. Sure it was more of a problem in the 70s, but it didn’t go away after that.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        15 hours ago

        Every building before like 1978 has lead paint, but people forget that so does the land around them. I live in an area with older homes and we’re frequently warned not to grow vegetables within 10’ of the house because the soil is too likely lead contaminated from peeling or stripping exterior paint over the years

        • Drusas@fedia.io
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          14 hours ago

          It’s definitely worth having your soil tested before growing anything you plan to ingest in an urban environment.

      • catloaf@lemm.ee
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        2 days ago

        Lead paint is encapsulated and not going to enter your body. Which houses have lead pipes? Even the houses I’ve lived in over 100 years old have all had complete copper plumbing.

        • idiomaddict@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Lead paint is not going to enter my body, but that’s because I very rarely put unknown things in my mouth. Toddlers operate differently

          • AA5B@lemmy.world
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            15 hours ago

            If you’re in a contaminated area, you’re contaminated. Hopefully not enough to make a difference if you don’t eat paint chips.

            • But smaller chips are part of the dust that gets everywhere.
            • Chips and stripped paint is part of the soil that may be pulled up into any vegetables grown in that soil.
            • heavy metals bioaccumulate so even small exposures over enough time can add up to a problem
            • it’s not just lead, mercury is notorious for bioaccumulating up the food chains for many seafoods
    • classic@fedia.io
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      2 days ago

      Meanwhile, it’s presently in many other sources like chocolate and spices. It’s part of the soup, it’s not doing us any favors, but it’s far from the sole causative factor.

      • vaultdweller013
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        2 days ago

        So for quick context the reason why it’s present in foods specifically plants is because the plants naturally leach it up.