Unravelling the Concerns Surrounding Lead: What You Need to Know
Ramesh Natarajan
Author of Amazon Bestseller Book 'Batteries Demystified' | Podcaster | Expert in Lead Acid Battery Manufacturing Processes and Machines
Let me start this article with a brief introduction on the health hazards which we all face in our day-to-day life.
Traffic control police officers who diligently perform their duties on the road throughout the day are more susceptible to pollution caused by traffic compared to an industrial worker.
Construction workers face dangers on a daily basis, and even young children growing up in construction sites are exposed to significant risks on a regular basis.
Road accidents claim numerous lives every day. Surprisingly, pedestrians are now more vulnerable to risks than vehicle drivers.
Workers in industries involved in manufacturing cement, fertilizers, cosmetics, glass items, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, paints, forged parts, ceramic products, etc. etc., endure uncomfortable working conditions while handling hazardous materials.?
Hospitals, often considered places where the sick go to receive treatment, expose their staff to various unknown and diverse illnesses on a daily basis. Imagine the challenges faced by those working there day in and day out.
Individuals employed in electricity substations, nuclear installations, railways, and similar professions also encounter significant risks as part of their jobs.
The battery industry, like many other industries, does utilize lead, which is classified as a hazardous material. It is extremely important to handle any hazardous chemical or situation appropriately. By understanding and addressing hazards and critical situations properly, we can effectively deal with them.
The FAQ format which follows, aims to inform readers about this, and emphasizes that lead used in batteries, should not be seen as something to be condemned.?
No. Usage of lead acid batteries is not hazardous in the normal course though the major component in a lead acid battery is lead.?
Proper usage with periodic maintenance ensures that battery is not damaged and such batteries are very safe to be used. The terminals need to be kept clean to ensure that there is no lead sulphate formation by periodic cleaning and Vaseline application. Abuse of batteries by short circuiting can create problems of battery bursting since it contains a lot of stored energy.?
If you mean that lead used in batteries are classified as toxic then please understand that batteries are supplied enclosed in a container. The user does not come in contact with the lead unless he breaks open the battery and hence lead acid batteries are safe to use. It is for this reason that one finds a lot of batteries are used in home inverters, and lead, though classified as hazardous, does not harm the user.
2. Can lead toxicity be attributed to lead acid batteries?
All reasons of lead toxicity cannot be attributed to lead acid batteries. In fact, the presence of lead in petrol, paints, cosmetics, colourful toys, a few ayurvedic medicines, pencils and various other items including the food that we consume has alarmed various agencies and institutions working to reduce lead toxicity. Lead was used by plumbers and a lot of water pipelines still exist in certain areas that have lead pipes. A majority of lead pipelines have been dismantled but a few underground pipes do exist, it seems. As regards food, the spices like turmeric and chilli powder, are at times found to be adulterated and they contain lead. Lead imparts the food colour and makes the product attractive. The usage of lead and lead compounds are in quite a variety of products found in and around our homes including cosmetics, batteries, paint, ceramic, solders, gasoline, lead pipes and ammunition. India has got unleaded petrol thanks to the efforts of the team led by the Lead Man of India Dr. Venkatesh Thuppil. He also spearheaded the campaign for lead safe paints.?
3. What are the specific symptoms of lead toxicity due to lead?
Unfortunately lead toxicity cannot be easily detected due to obvious or specific symptoms. Lead toxicity however has deleterious effects on humans especially women and children.?
4. If the symptoms are not obvious, how does the doctor diagnose lead toxicity as the reason to start treatment?
Since the symptoms are not specific in nature, diagnosis is often missed or delayed. This is unfortunate but a reality. Some of the symptoms of such patients are?
The doctors may find such persons
Additionally, such persons may have neurological features like
5. Is it possible to find out as to whether a person has lead toxicity?
Yes, it is possible to detect lead toxicity. The lead can be detected in blood and bones. Detection of lead is usually done by checking lead in blood. This was a test being carried out, by only a few laboratories. Of late, kits have been developed which give accurate results in a fast manner – thanks to the pioneering efforts carried out under the guidance of the Lead Man of India Dr. Venkatesh Thuppil. There are quite a few laboratories spread all over India which have the facilities to carry out these tests nowadays.
6. What is the cost of test done to determine Lead in Blood?
The cost used to be quite high, but nowadays it is possible to determine the ‘lead in blood’ by pathological tests, costing in the range of Rs.800.00 to Rs.1200.00. These are done by quite a few pathological laboratories spread all over India. The tests are done using a test kit which gives fast results and these kits have been developed under the guidance of Dr. Venkatesh Thuppil.
7. Can lead toxicity be treated?
Yes, lead toxicity can be treated. Of course, early detection helps and is highly preferred. There are some doctors who have specialised in the area of treatment of lead toxicity - due to their interest in the subject, long experience and a lot of study done by them. The organisation InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) conducts programs periodically for doctors to sensitise them on this subject.
8. What is the line of treatment adopted by doctors to treat lead toxicity?
The treatment is Chelation Therapy. It helps to accelerate the excretion of lead from the body. The therapy ensures that body stores of lead is reduced. The chelating agent used binds with lead and allows lead to be passed in urine or faeces.?
Doctors reportedly use Diuretics which help remove water from the body. Doctors seemingly also use Vitamin C which is an anti-oxidant. Vitamin C is helpful to reduce oxidative stress and scavenge the free radicals generated due to lead. Constipation is attended to by giving laxatives and at times Enema is administered. Hypertension is monitored continuously and treated as necessary. All these are however to be done under expert medical supervision. Please do not consider this as medical advice for self-treatment. At times hospitalisation is resorted to depending on the extent of treatment and care required as well as the condition of the person. Dr. Surendra Chadha of Patliputra Nursing Home, Sameypur, New Delhi has treated many patients and has a lot of experience in this matter.
The treatment continues after discharge, in cases wherein the patient was admitted in the hospital.?
9. Is it true that lead used in batteries is classified as an occupational health hazard?
Yes, lead acid battery manufacturing involves handling, storage and use of lead at all stages of manufacturing. It is therefore considered as an occupational health hazard with strict guidelines imposed on battery manufacturing companies.
10. Can washing of hands with normal soap remove lead from the hands?
The washing of hands with normal soap, does clean the hands, to some extent. Detergents have been found to be more effective though. Hence a lot of factories recommend that workers use strong detergents. These however do not remove the lead completely, despite scrubbing and brushing.?
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Special liquid soaps developed for lead removal are available and these need to be used to ensure Lead Free hands. These soaps which have been developed guarantee the removal of lead. The company which has developed this after a lot of research offers proof of lead removal by a simple test method. A spray is used on cleaned hands to test and this indicates the presence of lead even if it is in trace amounts. This company’s product has been approved by leading battery manufacturers and the manufacturer of this cleaning agent is an approved vendor to reputed large battery manufacturers.?
11. What are the steps to be taken by battery manufacturers to ensure that workers working in battery factories are not affected by lead?
Battery manufacturers have devised various methods to ensure clean environment and prevent workmen from getting affected by the usage of lead in battery factories. These may not be comprehensive though. There is always scope for improvement and more and more ways are devised to ensure lead free environmental conditions at the workplace. I am listing a few steps below:
? Provision of appropriate masks and insisting on use of these.
? Provision of hand gloves and insisting on use of these.
? Fixing of dust collectors at various points where lead dust is generated to ensure that the air purity levels are within the prescribed norms.
? Ensuring availability and insisting on changing into fresh uniforms for all employees on their arrival for duty.
? Ensuring that employees have breakfast or adequate snacks prior to start of work to ensure that their stomach is not empty prior to start of work.
? Insisting on cutting of nails by providing nail cutting stations and periodic checking of nail growth.
? Insisting on a bath including head shower for all employees after work timings using the approved soap and shower provided by the factory.
? Insisting on hand wash using approved soap prior to having meals in the canteen and periodic checking of the washed hands for lead traces using test spray on a random basis.
? Providing a laundromat facility within the factory to ensure that the employees remove their uniform for a wash after their work shift. Such clothes are washed using special soap that is prepared for lead removal.
12. Are such special soaps available that are used by these large companies which are approved and found to be effective?
Yes, these soaps are available for various purposes as Hand Wash, Body Wash, Uniform Wash and Respirator Wash. The company which provides this soap to established and reputed battery manufacturers is based in Chennai and is Surfactants & Allied Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. You can contact them by sending a mail to [email protected] or [email protected] or by calling up Mr. Narasimha Rao Harnoor on +91 9380670760.
13. What are the effects of lead toxicity?
The effects of acute lead toxicity are either or a combination of the following:
? Abdominal pain
? Problems in passing stool
? Pain at joints
? Constipation
? Neuro related issues
? Lack of appetite
? Sleep disturbances
? Inability to concentrate
? Bone related issues
? Memory affecting problems
? Effects on fertility and reproduction
14. Why are women usually not allowed to work in battery manufacturing factories?
The possibility of women facing problems in reproduction, due to their fertility being affected, is the major reason for women not being permitted to work in battery factories. Moreover, the possibility of children getting affected through these women working, in a hazardous environment, is another reason for the recommendation that women must not work in battery factories. With the introduction of safe and improved work conditions and periodic monitoring of health, a few battery factories have reportedly started incorporating women in some areas of work, in their battery factories. Finally, the work environment conditions matter and a safe environment becomes the deciding factor in such cases.?
15. Which area or what operations in a lead acid battery industry has the most lead exposure?
Lead smelting, lead alloying, lead oxide manufacturing, red lead powder manufacturing and certain sections in battery manufacturing factory like paste mixing, tubular positive plate filling, lug brushing etc are a few areas where powder is handled. An effective dust collection system and good industry practices however ensure safety of all concerned. Conformance to local regulations and norms, specified by the national and state pollution boards, help in keeping employees safe. A lot of suggestions and recommendations of OSHA in relation to battery industry are implemented, enforced and practised by many battery manufacturers to ensure employee safety and well-being.?
16. Is there any organisation working on this topic, in case more details are required about lead toxicity or treatment?
InSLAR, the Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research is an organisation which conducts conferences, spreads awareness and thereby trains medical students on various aspects of lead toxicity. The society works closely with various types of industries who need their guidance to address the needs of occupational lead hazard.
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