Lead in footbags. Blood Test...

Leuch · Post by **Leuch** » 08 Sep 2005 07:26

Hey,

here are some results of 2 blood tests I've done to see how crazy I am to play with footbags feeled with lead. To have an idea, I play footbag since 2 years, and I make bags since 1 year... I do have a lot of contacts with lead cause of the stitching, and I always or almost have a bag in my pocket...

In december, I had 163 mcg/l.
I have now 144 mcg/l...

The laboratory gave me those informations:
In general, in french population, men have under 120 mcg/l.

The workers who have contact with lead have over 200. They need a medical surveillance...

And it's really not good to go over 500mcg/l untill now, and 400 at the 1st of january 2006 (new law..)

I don't really know what to think about those results... it's SO strange that I have less now than before...

I just wanted to keep you aware...

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 08 Sep 2005 07:46

Thanks for the information. I have wondered about this.

~peace
Damon

sniikeri · Post by **sniikeri** » 08 Sep 2005 07:52

So...no more mouth stalls with lead bags?

Spawn · Post by **Spawn** » 08 Sep 2005 16:17

So...no more mouth stalls with lead bags?

lol

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 08 Sep 2005 17:56

I think it's pretty unlikely from the research I've done that you'd get lead poisoning from making or playing with footbags unless you actually lick or swallow the lead or material that has just had lead on it. - People are fairly paranoid about lead poisoning but you really wouldn't get enough from a footbag to do any damage: as you can see from the tests - Leuch is well below the danger level. Yes he's above average but he's still completely safe.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 08 Sep 2005 18:26

Also 1 person isn't really a massive sample size, and while there is a good possibility the difference is a result of lead in footbags, there is also a good possibilty it's from something else. That said as was originally posted, its a matter of being aware of the possibility. I'd be really interested in a broader study - any footbager/medical researcher's out there looking for a Phd Thesis?!

DoctorJay · Post by **DoctorJay** » 10 Sep 2005 00:09

For all people who think they know many about lead - I would recommend to do some research when it comes to the sources for lead . Moreover you should check the different ways of absorption and their poisonous.

For example mercury ( Hg) you could easily take a bath with your finger in it - nothing will happen . I think I remember right that you would be able to eat it - the element Hg is not dangerous for the body. the problem is when Hg gets in a compound with another element and gets into your brain !

I do not know that much about heavy metals nor I want to play down the hazardousness of lead .
I just want to point out that it is hard to say something about lead when you are not into this materia .

Heavy metals and their effect on the human body is part of my studies and I cannot rate the risk of playing with a leadfilled footbag.

I think it is strange if people tell their opinions about lead like scientifically proved .

Just some notes :

Lead is in fuel - the particulate matter in flats near gas stations is much higher than in other flats ( I guess about 500 times).

Other things which you should consider - Charles smokes and lives in Paris - I could imagine that people in Paris have a higher leadlevel than on average in France

I will check my lead level soon - maybe I know more than.

sniikeri · Post by **sniikeri** » 10 Sep 2005 04:29

DoctorJay wrote:Lead is in fuel - the particulate matter in flats near gas stations is much higher than in other flats ( I guess about 500 times).

I'm 99% sure that lead gasoline isn't allowed to be used in the EU - lead gas breaks the new engines. Maybe in the new member countries lead gas is still used because (I conclude) it's cheaper and the cars are older. In Russia it's still used (non-lead too). I also think it isn't used in the USA either, it's much bigger problem in Africa.

I watched a document a week ago and it was about how lead affects us. There were scientific tests that the children who had more lead in them had lower IQs, problems with concentration and remembering things etc. Then the group was tested again when they were 18 or so, and the scientists found out that a big part of the people with more lead had quit their schools.

This conversation could also be in the discussion section or what do you think?

Leuch · Post by **Leuch** » 10 Sep 2005 04:55

I think Lauri is right... In France I don't think you can find gasoline with lead in it...

Doctor, you're right when you say that we have to take in consideration that I live in Paris, and that I smoke... (I've quited cigarets more than 2 weeks ago!! and it's really hard... but I'm surviving!!!). So part of the contamination could come from this...

But, I've heared so many stitchers or footbaggers saying that lead is really poissonous, and dangerous for environment and everything... How those people know about it??

Cause the lead I use is fishing lead. So usualy, people use it to fish in lakes... it should contaminate the lakes after a while, and so be forbidden.. and it's not, I don't really understand...

My lead is "without" arsenic... does it change anything you think???

Something I really cannot understand is why I have less lead know than in December...

Jeremy, do you use lead? I didn't know you have this point of view!

*Jethro* · Post by ***Jethro*** » 10 Sep 2005 05:14

Jeremy, I suggest you dont play with lead footbags.

cough *he does mouth catches* cough

high risk level for Jeremy

sergio · Post by **sergio** » 10 Sep 2005 08:22

leaded fuel is worse for the environment and more expensive, not cheaper! The reason it's only forbidden in very developped countries is that they're the only ones to have a big proportion of new cars. But now, you can use unleaded fuel mixed with some sort of additive in cars that only take leaded fuel, and it's still cheaper that way...

From what I've heard, except workors who are exposed to lead, the children are the ones who get the most lead poisoning, also called saturnism. Before lead was used in paint, and children are more propicious to put their hands anywhere and everywhere (on appartment walls in example), and then to put them in their mouth. Now, only old buildings still have these kinds of paint.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 10 Sep 2005 08:22

Yeah I use lead in my footbags but I've done enough research to be personally comfortably sure that I'm not risking my health at all doing mouth catches and I'm pretty sure that the people who speak out against lead in footbags haven't done much research. Lead is definitely poisonous - I wouldn't deny that. In large amounts it can also be very bad for the environment. But the amount of lead needed for contamination is relatively high - especially since only a small percentage of the lead that passes into your system is absorbed. So even if you swallowed some lead pellets - I would think you'd still be perfectly fine. The children living near highways with lead poisoning are effected from a very young age and were breathing in lead exaust fumes for their whole live - years and years and the damage caused did not seem to be in every child exposed to lead - so basically if you breath in lead fumes every day of your life when your brain is developing for 5 - 10 years there is some chance that you will be effected.

Skippy! · Post by **Skippy!** » 10 Sep 2005 08:43

Don't quote me on this but I remember researching an artist who used lead paint to make his artwork, and dyed from inhaling the fumes. Mind you, he worked in a poorly ventilated area and all sorts of other stuff. But I think the point of me bringing this up as that anybody can be affected by it...I think....

I really have no clue though.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 10 Sep 2005 08:51

yeah but as with the car exaust fumes - it's about prolonged exposure. With fumes you get a lot of exposure because you're constantly breathing them in - so every breath contains lead. With footbags the most likely way that the lead will get into your system is digested - most likely from the bag getting wet with sweat, the sweat getting small particles of lead in it, the sweat then getting on your hands and then you eating something or wiping your mouth or whatever. Ingested lead has a low absorbtion rate (or at least that's what I've read).

Actually I suddenly realised that it would be much better for everybody who is concered to do their own research and make their own decision. I don't want to tell people it's safe if they then get sick from lead poisoning - although personally I'm completely comfortable putting a lead filled footbag in my mouth and from the research I've done feel that this is safe - however there is some chance I am wrong and I don't really want to feel responsible if other people get sick from the lead.

Skippy! · Post by **Skippy!** » 10 Sep 2005 09:00

Mmm. Tasty footbag.