Abstract
The toxicity of lead has been known for thousands of years. In past centuries, it was believed that lead was dangerous only when people were exposed to large amounts, such as when they handled quantities of lead in their work, or when they drank wine cooked in solid lead pots, where the liquid would pick up very high concentrations. Only the most severe cases of lead poisoning were recognized, those that resulted in comas, convulsions, and death.
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Endnotes
Herbert L. Needleman et al., “Deficits in Psychologic and Classroom Performances of Children with Elevated Dentine Blood Lead Levels,” New England Journal of Medicine 300 (1979): 689–695.
See Thomas A. Lewis, “The Difficult Question of Herbert Needleman,” National Wildlife (April/May 1995): 20-25.
Section based on Richard Rabin, “Warnings Unheeded: A History of Child Lead Poisoning,” American Journal of Public Health 79 (1989): 1668–1674. Citations for laws are in Appendix H.
David Bellinger, “Neurodevelopmental Effects of Low-Level Lead Exposure in Children,” Reference Materials Vol. II, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) 1996 Annual Convention, Boston: 1281; John Rosen, “Health Effects of Low Lead Exposure Levels,” American Journal Diseases of Children 146 (1992): 1278.
Joel Schwartz, “Beyond Loel’s Values and Vote Counting Methods for Looking at Shape and Strengths of Associations,” Neurotoxicology 14 (1993): 237.
John W. Graef, M.D., Children’s Hospital, Boston, personal interviews, August 1996.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services, Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Childhood Lead Poisoning (1991).
Karen L. Florini et al., Legacy of Lead: America’s Continuing Epidemic of Childhood Lead Poisoning (Environmental Defense Fund, 1990).
Karen L. Florini and Ellen K. Silbergeld, “Getting the Lead Out,” Issues in Science and Technology 9 (1993): 34.
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© 1997 Irene Kessel and John T. O’Connor
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Kessel, I., O’Connor, J.T. (1997). Public Policy. In: Getting the Lead Out. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6116-7_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6116-7_20
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