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Cervical Dystonia & Lead - any connection?? Please respond

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Canner001

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Nov 5, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/5/97

Hi Everyone,
My question is this.... can "lead" poisioning cause cervical
dystonia? My husband has been working with raw lead (burning , melting and
handling) for several years and I've always been yelling at him for it. Now,
he is finally wondering if this could have had an effect after all. PLEASE
give me your input. Thanks, Kate

GGMCJP

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Nov 5, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/5/97

Hi Kate,

I'm sorry to hear that Russell is not doing well again.

It seems to me I've read something about dystonia and environmental 'stuff'. I
will check and give you the website, so you can check it out in 'person'.

Anyone else out there have the answer to this???

Take care.

Gina

>Subject: Cervical Dystonia & Lead - any connection?? Please respond
>From: cann...@aol.com (Canner001)
>Date: Wed, Nov 5, 1997 10:26 EST
>Message-id: <19971105152...@ladder02.news.aol.com>

Gene

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Nov 5, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/5/97

On 5 Nov 1997 15:26:23 GMT, cann...@aol.com (Canner001) wrote:

>Hi Everyone,
> My question is this.... can "lead" poisioning cause cervical
> dystonia? My husband has been working with raw lead (burning , melting and
> handling) for several years and I've always been yelling at him for it. Now,
> he is finally wondering if this could have had an effect after all. PLEASE
> give me your input. Thanks, Kate

Hi Kate,

Because of time constraint, I haven't been able
to find any articles correlating lead poisoning
and dystonia. However, you will find listed below
Web Addresses, where there's references to lead
poisoning. You might find what you are looking
for in these pages.

On a personal note, I would not be surprise to
learn that lead poisoning cause dystonia.

Gene

TCC 06 MD

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Nov 6, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/6/97

Gene,
You and elf can come up with so many sites for others to check out!
Really helpful. I don't know anthing about 'lead', but it would seem
dangerous if handling it as stated in post. When selling a home you have
to let buyer know if any paint is lead based.....could be something there.
Even if it doesn't cause dystonia doesn't sound safe.
Anne

Anna

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Nov 6, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/6/97

Hi Kate,

Since there is no cause or cure for dystonia, as of this date, who knows
if lead could be a culprit. I also worked in a Hardware, appliance and
feed store with lots of "chemicals" around. (Still work there, but we
are strictly wholesale salt now and breathing it is not good either,
even if I am in the office) I often wonder if these caused my problem.
I had an allergy to the chemicals and my nose was running constantly.
Who Knows?? Wish there was a clear cut answer. My brother used to
spray trees for bugs, etc. with chemicals and he ended up with
Parkinson's disease!! Prior to that, one of the hospitals, in
Pittsburgh, operated on HIS neck, saying he had herniated discs. From
that time on, he could not move his neck to the left or right. I feel
he had cervical dystonia and they did not recognize it.

The good thing is that lots more research is being done now and more and
more doctors are being educated on "What dystonia is". Of course, we
have to educate them. :-)

Take care, Kate.....Hugs....A fellow ST'er in PA.....Anna :-)

Gene

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Nov 6, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/6/97

On Thu, 06 Nov 1997 06:56:57 -0500, in alt.support.dystonia you wrote:

>Hi Kate,
>
>Since there is no cause or cure for dystonia, as of this date, who knows
>if lead could be a culprit. I also worked in a Hardware, appliance and
>feed store with lots of "chemicals" around. (Still work there, but we

Wish I could find the article. There was a survey
done in Quebec. It revealed those farming districts,
where there was chemical spraying, and paper mills,
Parkinson percentage was high, much higher than in
other districts.

There was an excellent article on a.s.d, recently
showing there' s a link between Parkinson and
Dystonia.

Gene

unread,

Nov 6, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/6/97

Hi,

Having briefly visited three Web Addresses,
listed below, you will find some distressing
material about lead poisoning.

Should anyone have more information,
associating lead poisoning to neurological
diseases, share it with us, please.

Gene

http://www.profengineering.com/leadblind.htm
http://www.ohsu.edu/cliniweb/C21/C21.613.html
http://www.hapcorp.org/docs/HEALTHY/Lead.htm

"Lead poisoning is one of the most common and preventable
childhood environmental health problems in the United States.
Although low-income, inner-city children have higher rates of
lead poisoning, no socioeconomic group, geographic area,
or racial or ethnic population is spared. In 1990, up to 3 million
children under 6 years of age, 15% of all children in this age
group, had blood lead levels greater than 10 痢/dL. Studies
have shown associations between diminished intelligence,
impaired neurobehavioral development, decreased hearing
acuity, and growth inhibition and lead levels as low as 10 to 15
痢/dL. A recent study (Ruff et al. 1993) demonstrated in a
cohort of children with moderate lead poisoning (25 to 55 痢/dL),
most of whom received residential lead abatement, that decreases in
blood lead levels were associated with improvements in cognitive
functioning. Higher levels can cause severe damage to the central
nervous, renal, and hematopoietic systems and can be fatal.

Lead Toxicity

Adapted from Case Studies in Environmental Medicine, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, June 1990.

Children of all races and ethnic origins are at risk of lead
poisoning throughout the United States.

In addition to renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and
reproductive toxicity, lead may cause irreversible neurologic
damage.

Blood lead levels once considered safe are now considered
hazardous, with no known threshold.

Lead poisoning is a wholly preventable disease.

Guest Contributor: Sarah E. Royce, MD, MPH
Guest Editor: Herbert L. Needleman, MD

Peer Reviewers: Charles Becker, MD; Jonathan Borak, MD;
Joseph Cannella, MD; Robert Fried, MD; Bernard Goldstein,
MD; Alan Hall, MD; Richard J. Jackson, MD, MPH;
Jonathan Rodnick, MD; Linda Rosenstock, MD, MPH;
Robert Wheater, MS; Brian Wummer, MD

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT LEAD POISONING FROM
VINYL MINI-BLINDS:

The information in this page was provided courtesy of :

Jay Steinfeld
President:

No Brainer Blinds & Shades
One Brainer Tower
6135 Kirby Drive Houston, TX 77005

1-888-4NO-BRAINER (toll-free)

Professional Engineering Inspections, Inc. is providing this page
in order to inform our customers of a potential hazard. This
information has not been evaluated or confirmed by us. Further
questions should be directed to No Brainer Blinds & Shades

On June 25, 1996, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
announced that all vinyl, imported mini-blinds should be removed from
people's homes because of the threat of lead poisoning. Since the
industry appears to be voluntarily withdrawing the product, the CPSC
came just short of issuing a recall.

Home lead test kits can be obtained by calling 1-800-896-LEAD.
You can email them at in...@leadtest.com

At least Home Depot and Lowes Home Improvement Centers
have already removed the products from their shelves. The
FAQ below should answer most of your questions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
LEAD POISONING FROM VINYL MINI-BLINDS:

Do all mini-blinds contain lead?

No, only vinyl mini-blinds imported from Mexico and Asia.
Aluminum blinds have not been known to have lead.

How can you get poisoned from these blinds?

By chewing on the blinds, or by touching the lead dust
accumulated on the blinds, then touching your
contaminated hand to your mouth.

How does lead dust get on the blinds?

Through prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, the blinds
deteriorate and the lead is released (leeches out) in tiny particles.

How can I tell if mine are vinyl or aluminum?

Scrape the blinds with a knife and if the paint comes off, they're
metal. If the mark remains the same color, it's probably vinyl. Or,
tap the blinds with a metal object such as a knife and listen to
the sound. Third, the slats can be inspected at their edges-if the
color is the same as the top and bottom of the slat it probably is
vinyl. If the color is bright aluminum it is not vinyl. Fourth, the
brackets holding the blind are usually easily determined to be
either vinyl or metal.

Which brands contain lead?

Check the label on the box or call the store where you bought
them to see if they were imported.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has
announced that ALL imported vinyl mini-blinds contain lead.
If the blinds were there before you arrived, then have them
tested or replace them with another product.

Who is most susceptible to lead poisoning?

Children under the age of six and small pets, because
they tend to chew and touch the blinds.

What should I do if my blinds have lead?

Carefully clean them with a high phosphate soap, such
as the type used in dishwashers. When cleaning them,
bring them outside and rinse thoroughly. Never vacuum
them as this will cause the dust to spread throughout
the home. Permanently remove the blinds and replace
them if possible. Keep small children and pets away
from the blinds. Keep cribs and furniture away from the
blinds. Get blood tests for your children, even if they
appear to be healthy. Wash children's hands, bottles,
pacifiers, and toys often.

Are there any home testing kits available to test the blinds?

Yes, and if yours test positive you should have them
tested further by a certified lab to determine if the
amount of lead is dangerous.

What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?

Symptoms include anemia, hearing loss, hyperactivity,
limited attention span, behavioral problems or learning
disabilities. Even small amounts of lead can harm a
child's brain, kidneys, and stomach.

What is the Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard
Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X, Section 1018)?

It is a new disclosure law requiring notice of the
presence of lead when selling certain dwellings
built before 1978.

How do I get more information?

National Lead Information Center 1-800-LEAD-FYI

Consumer Product Safety Commission 1-800-638-2772
(To report product related injury) 1-800-638-2772 in...@cpsc.gov
Regional offices -NY 212-466-1612 -Chicago 312-353-8260
-San Francisco 415-744-2966 Your local city, county, or state
health agencies. "

mmc...@gmail.com

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Oct 8, 2019, 7:52:55 PM10/8/19

I believe it can and does. I'm doing same kind of research. 9712882225

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