Saturday, November 5, 2016

EXPOSURE TO LEAD IS MORE HARMFUL TO CHILDREN THAN ADULTS - There have been follow-up studies out of Boston that find with low blood lead levels, you can have an I.Q. point difference of five to ten points.

4:43

The KERA Interview with Dr. Schulte

Highlights from Dr. Schulte’s interview:

Is there a level of lead contamination considered “safe” or “not as dangerous”? I’d say “not as dangerous.” I don’t know that any level of lead is safe.

But it’s a matter of how do you completely eliminate it from the environment? I mean it’s still a source of pollution. There’s still old houses with lead paint chips in them.

One thing that is not uncommon to hear about in Texas is pottery that is lead-contaminated. There’s makeup that contains lead. So there’s other sources of it.

It’s all around us? It’s all around us. Another thing we commonly see when we have lead clinic is people who are coming in from gun ranges. Lead is in bullets and we have treated people with blood lead levels of 40 to 70 who worked at gun ranges.

What is lead and what make it so dangerous? Lead is an element. And what make it dangerous is that, if you think back to your chemistry classes when you had to learn about the charges on stuff, lead is plus two which is the same as calcium, the same as iron.

The body mistakes it for other compounds that are needed and puts into red blood cells, and it puts it elsewhere in the body.

The other issue is that lead is not a one-time thing. If you have a high enough blood lead level and you get chelated with an oral medication and that gets rid of blood lead level, there’s still reservoirs of lead in your bone marrow.

So you can be chelated one time and then your body does a redistribution and your blood lead level goes back up. So it could take a long, long time to get rid of huge exposures of lead.

Is lead exposure more harmful to children than adults? It’s harmful to adults in the acute sense, but it’s more harmful to children because their brains are still growing and developing and, in essence, you’re altering their development.

The I.Q. thing is huge. There’ve been follow-up studies out of Boston that find with low blood lead levels, you can have an I.Q. point difference of five to ten points.
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Lead :
Actions You Can Take To Reduce Lead In Drinking Water

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Health Risks Of Heavy Metals
http://puricare.blogspot.com/2016/10/heavy-metals-exposure-to-some-metals.html

INSOMNIA,

LEAD

POISONING

AND

WATER

http://puricare.blogspot.com/2016/06/insomnia-lead-poisoning-and-water-lead.html...

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PURICARE

INDUSTRIAL

ENTERPRISES

Water

Treatment

Systems

http://puricare.blogspot.com/p/company-profile.html

Ballast-Type
Pressure Tanks

Houston Water Pump with
Mazaki Automatic Pump Controller

http://keranews.org/post/lead-exposure-its-more-water-problem

Thursday, November 3, 2016

WATER FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY - The history of water filters is indelibly tied to the history of water, itself. The earliest recorded attempts to find or generate pure water date back to 2000 B.C.

WHEN DID MODERN WATER FILTRATION BEGIN?
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The history of water filters is indelibly tied to the history of water, itself.

As human industry has grown and water has become more contaminated, water filters have emerged over the centuries in response to the growing recognition of the need for pure, clean water to drink and the realization that such water does not occur naturally.

Water has greatly affected humanity and civilization for millennia.

Because water is so absolutely vital to our body systems, we, as living beings, are entirely dependent upon water. In fact, this simple substance, more than any other factor, guided the formation of civilizations.

Early civilizations were clustered around water sources. It was water that initiated the first substantial agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, leading to more complex and sedentary civilizations.

For centuries, water availability guided the type of foodstuff that could be grown in an area. Water was also the impetus and guiding force behind the first cross-cultural interactions.

Early trade was completely dependent upon water, for transportation of goods and sustenance of people and animals. Throughout the centuries, as technology developed, people have gradually gained more control of water.

They have been able to transport water to arid lands, stop and redirect rivers, and even determine when, where, and how much

rain will fall.

Even with increased control of water
resources, water still continues to dominate the political, economic, and social structure of all nations.

This statement can be verified by looking at political struggles within the United States over water resources or throughout the Middle East over access to limited water.

Concerning conflict in the Middle East, former World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin stated in 2000, "Many of the wars of this [20th] century were about oil, but the wars of the next century will be about water" (Smith, 2000).

In modern times, concerns over water quality remain supreme. Over the years, scientists have discovered more and more contaminants in fresh water sources, and these same scientists have noted a strong correlation between drinking water contamination and many significant health problems.

Due to the rampant impurity of water and the crucial, physiological need for clean, fresh drinking water, several treatment alternatives have emerged throughout the history of water treatment.

Water filtration, one of the more viable and prominent of these treatment alternatives, has something of a remarkable past. Historians believe that the use of water filters began more than 4000 years ago!

The earliest recorded attempts to find or generate pure water date back to 2000 B.C.

Early Sanskrit writings outlined methods for purifying water. These methods ranged from boiling or placing hot metal instruments in water before drinking it to filtering that water through crude sand or charcoal filters (Baker & Taras, 1981).

These writings suggest that the major motive in purifying water was to provide better tasting drinking water. It was assumed that good tasting water was also clean. People did not yet connect impure water with disease nor did they have the technology necessary to recognize tasteless yet harmful organisms and sentiments in water.

Centuries later, Hippocrates, the famed father of medicine, began to conduct his own experiments in water purification. He created

the theory of the "four humors," or essential fluids, of the body that related directly to the four temperatures of the seasons.

According to Hippocrates, in order to maintain good health, these four humors should be kept in balance. As a part of his theory of the four humors, Hippocrates recognized the healing power of water.

For feverish patients, he often recommended a bath in cool water. Such a bath would realign the temperature and harmony of the four humors.

Hippocrates acknowledged that the water available in Greek aqueducts was far from pure in its quality. Like the ancients before him, Hippocrates also believed good taste in water meant cleanliness and purity of that water.

Hippocrates designed his own crude water filter to "purify" the water he used for his patients. Later known as the "Hippocratic sleeve," this filter was a cloth bag through which water could be poured after being boiled (Baker & Taras, 1981).

The cloth would trap any sentiments in the water that were causing bad taste or smell. The ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome designed amazing aqueducts to route water pathways and provide the first municipal water systems.

On the American continent, archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient Mayan civilization used similar aqueduct technology to provide water to urban residents.

Further advancements in water technology ended, for the most part, with the fall of these civilizations.

During the middle Ages, few experiments were attempted in water purification or filtration. Devout Catholicism throughout Europe marked this time period, often known as the Dark Ages due to the lack of scientific innovations and experiments.

Because of the low level of scientific experimentation, the future for water purification and filtration seemed very dark.

The first record of experimentation in water filtration, after the blight of the Dark Ages, came from Sir Francis Bacon in 1627 (Baker & Taras, 1981).

Hearing rumors that the salty water of the ocean could be purified and cleansed for drinking water purposes, he began experimenting in the desalination of seawater.

Using a sand filter method, Bacon believed that if he dug a hole near the shore through which seawater would pass, sand particles (presumable heavier than salt particles) would obstruct the passage of salt in the upward passage of the water; the other side of the hole would then provide pure, salt-free water.

Sadly, his hypothesis did not prove true, and Bacon was left with salty, undrinkable water. His experiment did mark rejuvenation in water filter experimentation.

Later scientists would follow his lead and continue to experiment with water filtration technology.

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Tachmina Laminated
Sand Filter

Ultraviolet Bactericidal System
with Cartridge Pre-Filters

source: www2.usgs.gov

JESSICA ROBERTSON (JROBERTSON@USGS.GOV) AND RANDALL ORNDORFF (RORNDORF@USG
..

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_quality/quality1/1-when-did-modern-water-filtratration-begin.htm.

PRESENCE OF ARSENIC IN WATER - Arsenic related illness is usually caused by consumption of contaminated drinking water. Most arsenic is excreted, and residues may be found in skin, hair, nails, legs and teeth. Under conditions of prolonged exposure, many organs may be damaged, skin pigmentation may occur, hair may fall out and nail growth may stop.

Arsenic (As)

and water

Arsenic and water: reaction mechanisms, environmental impact and health effects

Arsenic can be found in seawater (2-4 ppb), and in rivers (0.5-2 ppb). Half of the arsenic present is bound to particles.

Freshwater and seas algae contain about 1-250 ppm of arsenic, freshwater mycrophytes contain 2-1450 ppm, marine molluscs contain 1-70 ppm, marine crustaceans 0.5-69 ppm, and fishes 0.2-320 ppm (all values are based on dry mass).

In some marine organisms, such as algae and shrimp, arsenic can be found in organic compounds.

The legal limit for arsenic in water applied by the World Health Organization (WHO) is 10 μg/L.

In what way and in what form does arsenic react with water?

Elementary arsenic normally does not react with water in absence of air. It does not react with dry air, but when it comes in contact with moist air a layer is formed. The layer has a bronze colour, and later develops a black surface.

An example of an arsenic compounds that reacts strongly with water is orpiment. This is an amorphous arsenic compound.

Reaction mechanism:

As₂S₃ + 6 H₂O -> 2 H₃AsO₃ + 3 H₂S

In natural water arsenic participates in oxidation and reduction reactions, coagulation and adsorption. Adsorption of arsenic to fine particles in water and precipitation with aluminium or iron hydroxides causes arsenic to enter sediments.

After some time arsenic may dissolve once again consequential to reduction reactions.

Solubility of arsenic and arsenic compounds

Elementary arsenic is fairly insoluble, whereas arsenic compounds may readily dissolve. Arsenic is mainly present in watery solutions as HAsO₄^2-(aq) and H₂AsO₄^- (aq), and most likely partially as H₃AsO₄ (aq), AsO₄^3-(aq) or H₂AsO₃^-(aq).
Examples of solubility of arsenic compounds: arsenic(III)hydride 700 mg/L, arsenic(III)oxide 20 g/L, arsenic acid (H₃AsO₄^.1/2 H₂O) 170 g/L, and arsenic(III)sulfide 0.5 mg/L.

Why is arsenic present in water?

Arsenic compounds are abundant in the earth's crust.

Particles are released during mining, and spread throughout the environment. Arsenic from weathered rocks and soils dissolves in groundwater.

Arsenic concentrations in groundwater are particularly high in areas

with geothermal activity.

In aquatic ecosystems inorganic arsenic derived from rocks such as arsenic trioxide

(As₂O₃), orpiment (As₂S₃), arsenopyrite (AsFeS) en realgar (As₄S₄) is most prevalent. Arsenic is applied in different shapes and forms, and can enter water bodies as such.

Large quantities of arsenic that are released from volcanic activity and from micro organisms are relatively small compared to the quantities released from for example fossil fuel combustion.

Metallic arsenic is processed in lead or copper alloys, to increase hardness. The extremely toxic arsenic gas ASH₃ plays an important role in microchip production.

Copper arsenate (Cu₃(AsO₄)₂.4H₂O) is applied as a pesticide in viticulture, but its use is currently prohibited in many countries. Paxite (CuAs₂) is an insecticide and fungicide.

Other arsenic compounds are applied as a wood preservative, in glass processing, in chemical industries, or in semiconductor technique together with gallium and indium.

Dutch painters applied arsenic as a yellow pigment.

In the First World War arsenic was applied in chemical weapons. In the Vietnam War dimethyl arsenic acid was applied for the destruction of rice cultures.

Although arsenic is applied less and less, it is still present in the environment in considerable quantities. For example, near abandoned mines soil quantities of arsenic may still be up to 30 g/kg.

Arsenic was and is applied for medical purposes. In water from safe sources it probably aids curing asthma, haematological illnesses, dermatosis and psychosis.

In the 19th century watery solutions of potassium arsenide (Fowler solution) were applied to treat chronic bronchial asthma and other diseases.

At the beginning of the 20th century other arsenic compounds were applied to treat syphilis. Arsenic may assist in curing sleeping sickness and leukemia.

Arsenic compounds may enter the body less specifically through food intake. This encompasses 90% of the total arsenic intake, mainly from fish products.

Through fish grind in cattle feed arsenic may enter meat, and through contaminated soils it may enter plant products. In mushrooms near formed arsenic melting plants concentrations up to 50 mg/kg dry matter were found.

What are the environmental effects of arsenic in water?

Arsenic is an essential compound for many animal species, because it plays a role in protein synthesis. It is unclear whether arsenic is a dietary mineral for humans.

Arsenic toxicity is another important characteristic. The boundary concentration of arsenic is 2-46 ppm for freshwater algae.

The LC₅₀ value for Daphnia Magna is 7.4 ppm, and for the American oyster it is 7.5 ppm. These values encompass a time period of 48 hours.

The chronic toxicity values for a time period of three weeks is 0.5 ppm for the large cladoceran. For rats an LC₅₀ value of 20 mg/kg body mass was established.

This is the value for the carcinogenic arsenic(III)oxide compound. This compounds also blocks enzymatic processes, increasing its toxicity. In mice, hamsters and rats the compounds was embryo toxic and teratogenic.

Ferns bioaccumulate large quantities of arsenic. In nature, only one stable arsenic isotope exists. Currently 19 other unstable isotopes have been discovered.

What are the health effects of arsenic in water?

Arsenic related illness is usually caused by consumption of

contaminated drinking water.

In the old days it was applied as a poison, because symptoms of arsenic poisoning

resemble cholera symptoms, and therefore the intentional factor was shaded.

Arsenic appears to be essential for some plant and animal species. A possible safe dose for humans was calculated.

If arsenic is a dietary mineral, this dose would be 15-25 μg. This amount could be absorbed from food without any trouble. The total amount of arsenic in a human body is about 0.5-15 mg.

Many arsenic compounds are absorbed 60-90%, but they are also easily excreted. Humans can develop resistance to certain arsenic concentrations.

Shortly after absorption arsenic can be found in liver, spleen, lungs and digestive tract. Most arsenic is excreted, and residues may be found in skin, hair, nails, legs and teeth.

Under conditions of prolonged exposure, many organs may be damaged, skin pigmentation may occur, hair may fall out and nail growth may stop.

Toxicity differs between various arsenic compounds, for example, monomethyl arsenic acid and inorganic arsenide have a higher toxicity level than arsenic choline.

Acute toxicity is generally higher for inorganic arsenic compounds than for organic arsenic compounds. Oral intake of more than 100 mg is lethal.

The lethal dose of arsenic trioxide is 10-180 mg, and for arsenide this is 70-210 mg. The mechanism of toxicity is binding and blocking sulphur enzymes.

Symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cyanosis, cardiac arrhythmia, confusion and hallucinations. Symptoms of chronic arsenic poisoning are less specific. These include depression, numbness, sleeping disorders and headaches.

Arsenic related health effects are usually not acute, but mostly encompass cancer, mainly skin cancer. Arsenic may cause low birth weight and spontaneous abortion.

Arsenic in drinking water is an issue of global importance, therefore the legal limit was decreased to 10 μg/L. This legal limit is not met in countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh, where millions of people consume drinking water with an arsenic content of over 50 μg/L.

This problem results in long-term chronic health effects, such as skin disease, skin cancer, and tumours in lungs, bladder, kidneys and liver.

Multi-Media Filter, Highly-Activated Carbon Filter,
Zeolite-Process Water Softener with Brine Tank
(fully automatic backwash & regeneration)

Which water purification technologies can be applied to remove arsenic from water?

Arsenic removal from water can be carried out in different ways.

Options include ion exchange, membrane filtration, and iron and aluminum coagulation.

Drinking water mainly contains inorganic arsenic (arsenide or arsenate), therefore determining the total arsenic concentration suffices.

Reverse Osmosis

Distinguishing between different types of arsenic is irrelevant.
Arsenic removal from soils can be achieved by applying ferns that bioaccumulate large arsenic concentrations.