MARYLAND LEAD -Pb- AND THE ENVIRONMENT - BALTIMORE LANDLORD Pb DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHARLES WARE

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                        LEAD AND THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT

Lead (Pb) has been used so widely for centuries that it occurs almost everywhere in the environment.

Throughout earth's history many epidemics of lead poisoning (plumbism) from non-occupational exposure have occurred. From the possible involvement of lead in the fall of the Roman Empire ( the " Devonshire Colic ")  due to the abundant habit by well-heeled Romans of adding lead (Pb) as sweeteners to their unremarkable wine, to the more relatively recent discovery of pediatric plumbism through other environmental sources, lead poisoning has been a problem.

Over many centuries the use of lead in plumbing (the Romans started it), water, pottery, other earthenware, cooking utensils, home remedies and foods, cosmetics, toys, weapons, etc., has added significantly to the wide presence of lead in the general environment.

For instance, when a lead-glazed piece of ceramics is not heated enough, as is still the case in many developing countries, acid food and liquids such as salad dressings, citrus fruit juices and wine make lead dissolve from the glaze. The Mediterranean region and Central America have been notorious for this source of  plumbism.

In the United States, discarded car radiators, etc. are popular for use in distilling illicit whiskey ( aka "moonshine",etc.). Thousands have died from lead poisoning as a result.

Use of lead pipes and other lead plumbing items are still used in United States and Europe, among other countries. Consequently, drinking water as well as other uses of water are exposed to toxic amounts of lead. This issue was exacerbated in the 1960s in the United States when artificial water softening was started. The water softening began to dissolve lead (Pb) from the water pipes --- increasing the consumption by humans of lead.

The continued use by some vineyards of lead arsenate as a pesticide continues to contaminate wine.
Pollution from lead smelters in many countries continues to create plumbism problems, et al.