Run by

The LEAD Group Inc
The Lead Education and Abatement Design Group
Working to eliminate lead poisoning globally and to protect the
environment from lead in all its uses: past, current and new uses
ABN 25 819 463 114
Australians! Take action
today. Is lead harming
you & your kids? Buy low
cost, NATA accredited
laboratory lead test kits
here. Sample your dust,
soil, water, paint, toys,
jewellery, ceramics
what's new 

Water Lead test Kits

Proceeds from our DIY Home Lead Assessment kit sales go towards the
Keeping Australian Lead Out of Leaded Petrol Initiative.

Search this site
 
Search tips 
What's New

About Us
bell system lead poisoning
Contact Us
Council Lead Project
egroups
Library-Fact Sheets
Home Page
Media Releases
Newsletters
Q&A
Referral Lists
Reports
Site Map
Slide Shows-Films
Subscribe-Donate
Useful Links

Visitor Number

  QUESTION: Clients with tremors & lead exposure / skin absorption from wristband lead weights, 25 Nov 2006, Victoria Australia

Working as an occupational therapist, with clients with tremors, I wish to stabilise their hand while writing with a weighted wristband. Would a neoprene (wetsuit fabric) or plastic lined leather be a suitable barrier to prevent any risk of skin absorption of lead?

Your reply will guide my practices

 

ANSWER: 25 Nov 2006

Dear Madam,

I wonder whether you are aware that essential tremor has been linked to lead exposure? Please see the attached abstract: "Association Between Essential Tremor and Blood Lead Concentration" Elan D Louis, Eva C Jurewicz, LaKeisha Applegate, Pam Factor-Litvak, Michael Parides, Leslie Andrews, Vesna Slavkovich, Joseph H Graziano, Spencer Carroll, and Andrew Todd http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241711/ Environ Health Perspect. 2003 November; 111(14): 1707–1711. Where you will find the statement:

  "Determining whether this association is due to increased exposure to lead or a difference in lead kinetics in ET patients requires further investigation."

Perhaps you can work with a doctor to organise blood lead (PbB) tests for your clients with tremor. It would be fascinating don't you think, to see whether any of them improve with chelation therapy or other heavy metal detox methods?

The answer to your question could also be demonstrated by follow-up blood lead testing after wearing of the neoprene or plastic-lined leather lead-weighted wristbands. My guess is that either material would be suitable but you should keep in mind that more lead absorption occurs across sweaty skin than dry skin, so perhaps the neoprene would be better.

I'd be very glad of the opportunity to discuss these issues further with you or your clients' doctor/s.

Yours Sincerely
Elizabeth O'Brien

 

About Us | bell system lead poisoning | Contact Us | Council LEAD Project | egroups | Library - Fact Sheets | Home Page | Media Releases
Newsletters
| Q & A | Referral lists | Reports | Site Map | Slide Shows - Films | Subscription | Useful Links |  Search this Site
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
Last Updated 05 September 2012
Copyright © The LEAD Group Inc. 1991- 2012
PO Box 161 Summer Hill NSW 2130 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9716 0014