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Lead in albacore: guide to lead pollution in Americans
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 14, 1980
Summary
Lead contamination in canned tuna, 10,000 times natural levels, went unnoticed for decades due to analytical errors. This widespread lead exposure may cause unrecognized poisoning in most Americans.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Human Health
Background:
- Lead contamination in food sources, specifically canned tuna, has been significantly underestimated.
- Analytical errors masked lead concentrations exceeding natural levels by 10,000-fold for decades.
Observation:
- Dietary lead levels in present-day Americans (0.2 ppm) are vastly higher than in prehistoric populations (<0.002 ppm).
- Skeletal lead concentrations in modern Americans are 500-fold greater than in unpolluted ancient Peruvian populations.
Findings:
- Laboratory and field studies have been compromised by lead contamination in reagents, nutrients, and controls.
- The biochemical effects of lead in human cells have not been accurately studied due to pervasive contamination.
Implications:
- An unrecognized form of lead poisoning may affect a significant portion of the American population.
- Biochemical dysfunctions related to lead exposure are likely underestimated due to widespread, unrecognized contamination.