Lead is still bad for your brain

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Practical testing and home mitigation

  • Common advice: get blood lead tests via a doctor (routine for many toddlers in some regions; possible direct-to-lab in the US).
  • For houses: use EPA‑listed test kits for paint/objects, but several commenters say many swab kits are unreliable; XRF (x‑ray fluorescence) inspections and dust/soil sampling by professionals are preferred.
  • Recommended actions in old homes: replace friction surfaces like old windows, use “lead block” paints, handle renovations with plastic containment and thorough cleanup, and test garden/playground soil, especially near roads.
  • One downside: formally discovering lead can trigger legal/financial obligations to remediate, so some owners avoid testing.

Everyday exposure sources

  • Several point out that pipes/paint are no longer the main sources for many people; low‑level, ubiquitous contamination (dust, consumer goods, toys, cookware, dishes, soil) matters, especially for toddlers.
  • Lead can still show up in pottery glazes, brass, “free‑machining” steels, roofing flashing, bullets, and miscellaneous industrial uses.

Food contamination and regulations

  • Commenters discuss lead in processed foods (notably baby foods, fruit pouches, chocolate, spices—especially cinnamon—salt, cassava).
  • One thread claims intentional use of heavy metals in flavor/color processing; others, including a metalworker, strongly doubt lead is used that way in modern food‑grade equipment, suggesting contamination is mostly incidental or geographic.
  • Multiple people note lead is naturally present in rocks/soil, so zero lead in food is impossible; current standards (e.g., ~10 ppb in baby food) reflect detection limits and cost–benefit tradeoffs.
  • Debate over how much comes from soil vs processing, and whether “organic” or home‑made food meaningfully reduces risk remains unresolved.

Hobbies, jobs, and niche uses

  • Shooting: indoor ranges and primers release lead dust/fumes; frequent shooters and reloaders report elevated levels. Hygiene practices (washing with specialized soap, changing clothes, dedicated shoes) are advised.
  • Other exposures: fishing weights (often bitten to crimp), lead tape on golf clubs, leaded solder (strongly criticized even for hobby use), and some ceramics.

Lead batteries and industrial demand

  • Despite phase‑outs elsewhere, commenters note continued or growing lead use in: lead‑acid batteries (cars, EV 12V systems, data‑center UPS), radiation shielding, small‑aircraft fuel (avgas 100LL), and construction.
  • There’s debate whether lead‑acid remains justified given high recycling rates vs the health/environmental benefits of moving to lithium systems.

Policy, testing limits, and mitigation

  • Discussion of Prop 65: some see it as overbroad “warning fatigue”; others credit it with driving reformulation and contaminant reduction via private enforcement.
  • Commenters highlight that blood tests mostly show recent exposure; lead stored in bones can persist for decades and re‑enter circulation.
  • Beyond basic chelation/chelators, effective long‑term reversal strategies remain unclear in the thread; suggestions like cilantro are mentioned but not substantiated.