SLO LIFE Magazine Oct/Nov 2019

| HEALTH
HEAVY
METALS
Hidden Health Hazard or Overhyped Concern?
BY ERIKA FITZGERALD
Dating back to the Roman empire,
metals have been a staple in
industrialization and everyday
life. Known for their ingenuity,
the ancient Romans constructed
an intricate system of aqueducts
to supply the city’s water.
Physicians were aware that lead
mining led to adverse health
effects and, for this reason, ceramic pipes were preferred.
Nonetheless, lead pipes prevailed in certain areas where
modern testing shows ancient Roman “tap water” contained
100 times more lead than local spring waters. Not ideal, but
not necessarily deadly.
Naturally, building and ruling an empire is hard work. To
blow off steam, Roman emperors and aristocrats frequently
indulged in the finer things—like sweet wines simmered
down using lead pots and kettles. When examined under a
72 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019
modern lens, these recipes contained enough lead to
cause chronic and severe poisoning. Some researchers
even attribute the fall of Rome to lead poisoning,
pointing to the absent-minded and erratic Claudius
as an example. Whether this is true or not, one thing
we know for certain is that using lead for domestic
purposes and water distribution presents a major
health hazard.
Today, the dangers of lead poisoning are well-known
and documented—but the threat of lead and other
heavy metals in our environment remains far from
obsolete. In January, Consumer Reports released a study
documenting eyebrow-raising levels of inorganic
arsenic, lead, and cadmium in forty-five popular
fruit juices. In this specific case, Consumer Reports
recommends parents give kids less juice. But, the issue
extends far beyond skipping the OJ aisle. So, what’s
the real deal with heavy metals? >>
ERIKA FITZGERALD is a
writer and traveler with
a healthy addiction to
kombucha and kale.