The end of the lead weight era

[Manatee Diver]

CDC is in Atlanta, GA, not California.

Simple solution don't let children handle the lead weights.

Of course the young children that the CDC guideline is talking about can't scuba dive, so...

 

[tarponchik]

outlaw copper ha ha

oops copper is used in construction and wireing

And in plumbing! Plumbing, Carl!

 

[GJC]

Simple solution don't let children handle the lead weights.

Or let them live in houses where lead weights are stored, or live with parents who handle lead weights.

 

[tarponchik]

There are specific warning to not cook acidic dishes in cooper pots, or else you can get copper toxicity if you do it too much.

Considering that Americans do not cook much these days-they either eat out or take out-this is hardly a problem.

 

[Manatee Diver]

Or let them live in houses where lead weights are stored, or live with parents who handle lead weights.

Not really a concern, even with soft weights just washing your hands after handling will remove any measurable trace of lead. But if you are really that concerned there are lead removing wipes and soaps. I use them all the time since my lead exposure from shooting is many many many times higher than the lead exposure from handling lead weights.

Considering that Americans do not cook much these days-they either eat out or cook out-this is hardly a problem.

A lot of Americans buy copper cookware because it looks good. Gorden Ramsey even has a set hanging around his "home" kitchen on one of his shows.

 

[tarponchik]

There's a story of a university lab where research in hydroponics was being conducted. Various irreproducible results were found over a period of months. Upon closer investigation, it was determined that a stock solution, purportedly of Mg, had in fact been prepared by a graduate lab assistant using salts of Mn. That's the stuff you gotta watch.



The problem with Paracelsus' line of reasoning in this situation is that Pb bioaccumulates; the LD50 is relatively high, but the threshold for daily exposure over a period of months or years is not. For people who handle lead routinely on an occupational basis, this is a serious problem, and is the reason why blood tests are used in places like the battery industry. This is where you could run into problems with the DM who stacks lead on the boat twice a day over a period of years.

The problem with Storker's arguments is that there are indeed 2 kinds of metals. Some are essential microelements needed to support our lives, but (just like everything else) are bad for you in overdoses. Such overdoses, however, are not likely for a modern man who stuffs himself up with processed and unbalanced meals; more likely are deficiencies of these microelements. You can get excessive iron if you eat really, really lots of red meat; otherwise, poisoning with metals from this group is likely only as result of occupational hazards or environmental disasters (as shown in "Erin Brockovich" movie). In fact, many people take these metals in in the form of food supplements.

The other kind of metals are those that can do you only harm, and among these, indeed, Pb, Hg and Cd do bioaccumulate. So it is probably a good idea to avoid using them unless you absolutely have to.

 

[tarponchik]

A lot of Americans buy copper cookware because it looks good. Gorden Ramsey even has a set hanging around his "home" kitchen on one of his shows.

So do I. However, ours are plated on the inside with Bi-Sn alloy.

 

[Storker]

there are indeed 2 kinds of metals.

There are a few more than that. If you don't count the alloys, there's about 90 kinds of metals. And there are more alloys.

So do I. However, ours are plated on the inside with Bi-Sn alloy.

Modern copper utensils intended for serious use in the kitchen are stainless steel lined.
Mauviel M'heritage M'250C copper & stainless steel cookware - cast iron handle

 

[Kharon]

Or let them live in houses where lead weights are stored, or live with parents who handle lead weights.

Yep, Second hand lead is a terrible risk.

 

[broncobowsher]

Or let them live in houses where lead weights are stored, or live with parents who handle lead weights.

Easy, force them to live in a tent in the back yard. Let them fend for themselves since there will be no parental contact.
But it is all over if they drink from the garden hose, there is too much lead in the plastic garden hose to be safe.