Water pollution by chemicals and microscopic organisms and parasites have possibly been mankind #1 most preventable enemy of all time. First let' look at lead;>
Mental health consequences of lead exposure. Lead has well-documented cognitive and behavioral effects in children and adults who are occupationally exposed to lead. For example, children born to mothers exposed to toxic agents (e.g., lead and alcohol) during the pregnancy were up to 300 percent more likely to develop schizophrenia. Even small amounts of damaging toxic agents at a crucial stage in fetal development can increase the risk of schizophrenia and other mental health problems.
The Greco/Roman empires used lead pipes and drank wine made with leaded water out of leaded jars. They thought it made the wine taste sweeter. This began tie decline through the illness and insanity as their empires devolved.
Next mercury; Chronic exposure to mercury can lead to a number of symptoms including mental confusion, emotional disturbance, muscular weakness, kidney damage, tremors, sweating, loss of hearing, red fingers and toes, red cheeks, insomnia and shyness. The technical term for this condition is erethism. Usually, the changes in personality (such as social phobia) will be observed first before the other more obvious symptoms and it is easy to misdiagnose as a result.
It was even called "Mad Hatter Syndrome" because hat makers use mercury to treat the felt they use making hats. Mercury emissions, USA;>Coal-burning power plants are the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions to the air in the United States. [1] Over 56 tons (or 112,000 pounds) of mercury are emitted each year from coal-fired power plants, accounting for over 50% of all human mercury emissions in the United States.
Lead pollution USA;>
How Does Lead Get in the Air?
Sources of lead emissions vary from one area to another. At the national level, major sources of lead in the air are ore and metals processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation fuel. Other sources are waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers. The highest air concentrations of lead are usually found near lead smelters.
Biological pollution; In Ancient Rome and Greece, waterborne diseases were among the main causes of death and the danger of lead being used in the water piping was already being speculated on by various individuals.
Malaria and schistosomiasis were significant waterborne killers during those times and thanks to maritime trade they spread easily across the Mediterranean. Thousands of years ago bright minds were trying to stop the deaths and improve the taste and smell of the drinking water, with Hippocrates advising citizens to boil their water as far back as 350BC. While this was a good idea, it only concentrated on the things one could taste, touch, smell, or see with the naked eye.
In the 19th century, causes of waterborne diseases such as dysentery, typhus, hepatitis A and cholera were discovered and their fatal epidemics attributed to poor water quality and unhygienic sanitation. This led to emphatic improvements in water infrastructure.
All of the things listed above are in our water, our fish and vegetables. Typhus is in fleas and mosquitos as well. De-regulating gross polluters like fossil fuel power plants, refineries and their providers Is like assuming that they care. THEY DON'T! The infrastructure needs upkeep and constant repair unless decline is deemed as acceptable and we become like Rome. A chapter in a history book. And a time and place in myth and legend.
It's in
Mental health consequences of lead exposure. Lead has well-documented cognitive and behavioral effects in children and adults who are occupationally exposed to lead. For example, children born to mothers exposed to toxic agents (e.g., lead and alcohol) during the pregnancy were up to 300 percent more likely to develop schizophrenia. Even small amounts of damaging toxic agents at a crucial stage in fetal development can increase the risk of schizophrenia and other mental health problems.
The Greco/Roman empires used lead pipes and drank wine made with leaded water out of leaded jars. They thought it made the wine taste sweeter. This began tie decline through the illness and insanity as their empires devolved.
Next mercury; Chronic exposure to mercury can lead to a number of symptoms including mental confusion, emotional disturbance, muscular weakness, kidney damage, tremors, sweating, loss of hearing, red fingers and toes, red cheeks, insomnia and shyness. The technical term for this condition is erethism. Usually, the changes in personality (such as social phobia) will be observed first before the other more obvious symptoms and it is easy to misdiagnose as a result.
It was even called "Mad Hatter Syndrome" because hat makers use mercury to treat the felt they use making hats. Mercury emissions, USA;>Coal-burning power plants are the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions to the air in the United States. [1] Over 56 tons (or 112,000 pounds) of mercury are emitted each year from coal-fired power plants, accounting for over 50% of all human mercury emissions in the United States.
Lead pollution USA;>
How Does Lead Get in the Air?
Sources of lead emissions vary from one area to another. At the national level, major sources of lead in the air are ore and metals processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation fuel. Other sources are waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers. The highest air concentrations of lead are usually found near lead smelters.
Biological pollution; In Ancient Rome and Greece, waterborne diseases were among the main causes of death and the danger of lead being used in the water piping was already being speculated on by various individuals.
Malaria and schistosomiasis were significant waterborne killers during those times and thanks to maritime trade they spread easily across the Mediterranean. Thousands of years ago bright minds were trying to stop the deaths and improve the taste and smell of the drinking water, with Hippocrates advising citizens to boil their water as far back as 350BC. While this was a good idea, it only concentrated on the things one could taste, touch, smell, or see with the naked eye.
In the 19th century, causes of waterborne diseases such as dysentery, typhus, hepatitis A and cholera were discovered and their fatal epidemics attributed to poor water quality and unhygienic sanitation. This led to emphatic improvements in water infrastructure.
All of the things listed above are in our water, our fish and vegetables. Typhus is in fleas and mosquitos as well. De-regulating gross polluters like fossil fuel power plants, refineries and their providers Is like assuming that they care. THEY DON'T! The infrastructure needs upkeep and constant repair unless decline is deemed as acceptable and we become like Rome. A chapter in a history book. And a time and place in myth and legend.
It's in