Cases of water-related lead poisoning

Kingsbury s article failed to convince the broader medical community in New York City. Two years after Kingsbury published his article, the Academy of Medicine met in New York City. An entire session was devoted to a discussion about lead levels in New York City tap water. The session was opened with the comments of one Dr. Joseph M. Smith. After reviewing lead s many effects on the human system and various exposure vectors. Dr. Smith asserted that New York s water was perfectly safe and free of harmful levels of lead. Most of the other doctors at the conference shared Smith s view that Kingsbury was mistaken and that there were no cases of water-related lead poisoning in New York City. ... 

Beale were not the sort of people who dismissed the possibility of water-related lead poisoning out of hand. On the contrary, both writers had previously published articles in the British Medical Journal documenting cases of water-related lead poisoning.That two scientists so attuned to water lead recommended a standard as high as 1 ppm illustrates the propensity for, and significance of, using adult health to benchmark safety thresholds. 

Second, the incidence of the symptoms provide further evidence that this study likely undercounted the number of cases of water-related lead poisoning. There were 157 respondents who lacked color (pallor), but only 47 of these were classified as lead poisoned. While 82 respondents had a hemoglobin count less than 70 percent, only 25 of these were classified as poisoned. Although 36 of the respondents exhibited vertigo, only 9 of these were classified as lead poisoned. Constipation was also very common 78 respondents reported irregularity and only 25 of these were classified as lead poisoned. ... 

Not surprisingly, lead levels like these made many people sick and resulted in multiple adult deaths. Of the 404 cases of water-related lead poisoning documented by Bacup s health officer, 21 suffered from wristdrop 197 from headaches a few from spastic paralysis 206 from abdominal colic 148 from anemia several from insomnia and 339 exhibited the blue gum line. In 71 cases there was no patellar tendon reflex —that is, no knee-jerk in response to stimulation. Vision problems were not uncommon, including three cases of temporary blindness that lasted from a few minutes to a few days. Vertigo was also not uncommon while a sense of heat and burning in the soles of the feet was rare but not unheard of. In nearly every case the perspiration was lessened. In 148 cases, obstinate constipation was present and the faeces were hard and dry, and showed deficiency of bile. A forerunner of saturnine nephritis, albuminuria occurred in many individuals. Shooting pains in the hands, arms, back, and legs were very common, and usually mistaken for muscular rheumatism. ... 

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