Lead, canned food contamination

At one time canned foods were a significant source of lead because of poor-quality solder joints in the cans. High-acid goods, such as tomatoes, would leach lead from the cans. Finally, contamination of drinking water with lead occurs primarily from lead solder joints or old fixtures and occasionally lead pipe was used to bring water to a home. As with many metals, lead was used in a number of remedies, some of which are still available and used by some ethnic groups. 

The presence of elements known to have adverse health effects in humans such as lead and arsenic is obviously undesirable in food. Environmental sources are the main contributors to contamination of food with most metals and other elements. Some elements (e.g. arsenic) are present naturally but the major sources of other elements (e.g. lead) in the environment are from pollution from industrial and other human activities. The presence of metals and other elements in food can also be the result of contamination from certain agricultural practices (e.g. cadmium from phosphate fertilisers) or manufacturing processes (e.g. tin in canned foods). 

Very high levels of lead are present in the air at pistol ranges. This results both from the lead bullets themselves and from materials used to propel the bullets. Lead shot used for duck and game hunting can result in contamination of aquatic ecosystems and the food they produce. 

Likewise, keeping their fingernails short and clean will cut down the lead-contaminated dust and dirt that could be transferred to children s food or directly into their mouths. Washing children s faces before eating and sleeping, especially the area around the mouth, can also reduce the total amount of lead dust from their environment that ends up in their mouths. 

This fine dust settles on objects and flat surfaces, especially windowsills and floors. Children crawling and playing on the floor can get this lead dust on their hands and playthings. They ingest the lead-contaminated dust when they touch their mouths or food. They can get lead dust in their mouths by putting toys that have been on the floor into their mouths. The lead dust can also be tracked around the house. 

The most severe lead contamination of food in recent years has been from cans soldered with lead or from ceramics or leaded crystal used to store or serve food. 

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