Sparrows may be 'canary in the coal mine' for lead poisoning in children: study
Sparrows in Australian mining towns indicate lead poisoning in children. Sparrow lead levels correlate with children's, offering a cost-effective way to monitor community exposure to heavy metals despite ongoing challenges in reducing lead exposure.
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Sparrows have been identified as potential indicators of lead poisoning in children, particularly in Australian towns affected by mining activities. A study found that lead levels in sparrows accurately predicted lead levels in children in Broken Hill and Mount Isa. Researchers collected blood samples from sparrows and compared them to children's blood lead data, showing a correlation between high lead exposure in sparrows and children. Lead pollution remains a significant issue in Australia despite the phase-out of leaded fuel. Sparrows, due to their close interaction with human environments, offer a practical and cost-effective method to monitor lead exposure in communities. While sparrows cannot replace traditional monitoring methods, they provide valuable insights into contamination hotspots for various heavy metals and chemicals. Lead poisoning in children can have severe developmental impacts, and efforts to reduce exposure levels are ongoing but face challenges in achieving zero lead exposure. The study's innovative approach using sparrows as bioindicators has shown promise in assessing environmental pollution levels and their potential impact on human health.
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- Several commenters question why children aren't tested directly for lead, suggesting it would be more efficient.
- There is concern about the environmental impact of mining towns, with specific mentions of Broken Hill and Mount Isa suffering from lead-laden dust.
- Some express alarm at the severe effects of lead poisoning and the challenges in monitoring and reducing exposure.
- Others highlight the broader implications of lead contamination in the ecosystem and its potential impact on human health.
- One comment notes the use of sparrows as a cost-effective monitoring method, while another mentions the prevalence of lead warnings in California.
13 commentsThe broken hill that the town of Broken Hill is named after no longer exists. The mullock heap pictured in the article is all that remains: the entire hill was dug away when the original mine was active. As you can see on OpenStreetMap[0], the slag heap sits right in the middle of the town, with lead-laden dust blowing down into the streets and backyards every time the wind picks up.
The other town mentioned in the article is Mount Isa[1]. Mount Isa has both a mine and a smelter, both located immediately to the west of the town. The prevailing winds are westerlies, so again the toxic dust falls on the town.
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Onto the article, if I ran a production software system, I'd be collecting data on the health of all my servers.
If I ran a country, I'd collect health data on all my towns (perhaps blood tests of 1% of the population each year).
Of course in malfunctioning environments, measurement is scary to leaders because it can give evidence that they aren't doing their job.
I live in California, and I've noticed that everything has a CA Proposition 65 warning label. When I look into it it's generally lead that has bioaccumulated in the plant. What I can't find is how much or how widespread it is in the food.
The landscape typically lends itself to that kind of dry post-apocalyptic look, however shooting for Mad Max: Fury Road was relocated to Namibia[2] as heavy rains had caused the area to break out into bloom.
[1] https://www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au/Services/Filming-in-Broken...
[2] https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/asset/99353-mad-m...
It seems like it would be fewer steps, fewer tests, and less messing around by making testing more available to the people.
If a building or home in your area is being demolished? Don't open your windows, and don't go outside without a well-fitting dust mask. Never attend a building demolition event.
Contractors and developers are supposed to take measures and inform local government...if they're stupid enough to inspect for lead / asbestos before construction and declare that they're doing asbestos / lead abatement. Every piece of regulation and law I've found uses a very fascinating phrasing - you're required to do things if conducting abatement.
Many states go further and exempt anything under a dozen or two units or commercial buildings. It's an absolute shitshow.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/2022-annual-childhood-lead-poisonin... [PDF]
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