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Healthwatch
Lead Poisoning: What Parents Should Know And Do
~3.4 mins read

Peeling pieces of paint arranged to spell the word lead; concept is lead poisoning

You may have heard recent news reports about a company that knowingly sold defective lead testing machines that tested tens of thousands of children between 2013 and 2017. Or wondered about lead in tap water after the widely reported problems with lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan. Reports like these are reminders that parents need to be aware of lead — and do everything they can to keep their children safe.

How is lead a danger to health?

Lead is poisonous to the brain and nervous system, even in small amounts. There really is no safe level of lead in the blood. We particularly worry about children under the age of 6. Not only are their brains actively developing, but young children commonly touch lots of things — and put their hands in their mouths. Children who are exposed to lead can have problems with learning, understanding, and behavior that may be permanent.

How do children get exposed to lead?

In the US, lead used to be far more ubiquitous than it is now, particularly in paint and gas. Yet children can be exposed to lead in many ways.

  • Lead paint. In houses built before 1978, lead paint can sometimes be under other paint, and is most commonly found on windowsills or around doors. If there is peeling paint, children can sometimes ingest it. Dust from old paint can land on the floor or other surfaces that children touch with their hands (and then put their hands in their mouths). If there was ever lead paint on the outside of a house, it can sometimes be in the dirt around a house.
  • Leaded gas. While leaded gas was outlawed in 1996, its use is still allowed in aircraft, farm equipment, racing cars, and marine engines.
  • Water passing through lead pipes. Lead can be found in the water of older houses that have lead pipes.
  • Other sources. Lead can also be found in some imported toys, candles, jewelry, and traditional medicines. Some parents may have exposure at work or through hobbies and bring it home on their hands or clothing. Examples include working in demolition of older houses, making things using lead solder, or having exposure to lead bullets at a firing range.

    • What can parents do to protect children from lead?

    First, know about possible exposures.

  • If you have an older home, get it inspected for lead if you haven't done so already. (If you rent, federal law requires landlords to disclose known lead-based paint hazards when you sign a lease.) Inspection is particularly important if you are planning renovations, which often create dust and debris that increase the risk of exposure. Your local health department can give you information about how to do this testing. If there is lead in your home, don't try to remove it yourself! It needs to be done carefully, by a qualified professional, to be safe.
  • Talk to your local health department about getting the water in your house tested. Even if your house is new, there can sometimes be older pipes in the water system. Using a water filter and taking other steps can reduce or eliminate lead in tap water.
  • If you have an older home and live in an urban area, there can be lead in the soil. You may want to have the soil around your house tested for lead. Don't let your child play in bare soil, and be sure they take off their shoes before coming in the house and wash their hands after being outside.
  • Learn about lead in foods, cosmetics, and traditional medications.
  • Learn about lead in toys, jewelry, and plastics (yet another reason to limit your child's exposure to plastic).

    • Second, talk to your pediatrician about whether your child should have a blood test to check for lead poisoning. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:

  • Assessing young children for risk of exposure at all checkups between 6 months and 6 years of age, and
  • Testing children if a risk is identified, particularly at 12 and 24 months. Living in an old home, or in a community with lots of older homes, counts as a risk. Given that low levels of lead exposure that can lead to lifelong problems do not cause symptoms, it's always better to be safe than sorry. If there is any chance that your child might have an exposure, get them tested.

    • How is childhood lead exposure treated?

    If your child is found to have lead in their blood, the most important next step is to figure out the exposure — and get rid of it. Once the child is no longer exposed, the lead level will go down, although it does so slowly.

    Iron deficiency makes the body more vulnerable to lead poisoning. If your child has an iron deficiency it should be treated, but usually medications aren't used unless lead levels are very high. In those cases, special medications called chelators are used to help pull the lead out of the blood.

    For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on lead poisoning prevention.

    Source: Harvard Health Publishing

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    Investopedia
    What We Learned From The Global Tech Outage Caused By CrowdStrike
    ~2.1 mins read

    After a CrowdStrike (CRWD) update caused an outage affecting businesses and governments across the world Friday, analysts said there could be lasting implications for the company and the big tech industry.

    A defective update by the cybersecurity company disrupted Microsoft (MSFT) platforms, impacting organizations ranging from airlines to the London Stock Exchange. The news sent CrowdStrike shares tumbling Friday, while Microsoft shares were little changed.

    The outage could negatively affect CrowdStrike through expenses associated with remedying the situation and damage to its reputation.

    Jefferies analysts said that while it's too early to know the exact implications of the outage on the company's financials, the timing is not working in CrowdStrike's favor. The outage happened in the last two weeks of the quarter when the analysts said "a large portion of business is done," raising the likelihood it could weigh down results.

    The analysts said that there could be an "expense burden" for the cybersecurity company as it works to appease impacted customers, which will likely mean "credits, discounting or additional free products" affecting margins.

    While the analysts highlighted that it's important that the outage was not related to a security issue and that CrowdStrike was transparent with its immediate response, they did say the incident could cause reputational damage that might deter customers and lead CrowdStrike to miss out on potential deals.

    While Microsoft was tied to the outage through disruptions to its systems, Jefferies analysts said the impact of the tech giant will likely be "minimal."

    Microsoft is "working closely with CrowdStrike and across the industry to provide customers technical guidance and support to safely bring their systems back online," CEO Satya Nadella said in an X post Friday.

    The scale of the outage also underlined the danger of consolidation within the tech industry where a few big players have a massive influence on the market, analysts said, and suggested it could draw attention from regulators to examine vulnerabilities in the ecosystem.

    "Given the scope of the outage and scale of economic disruption, we expect fresh, louder debates on the limits of vendor consolidation (systemic risk) both across the IT stack and especially cybersecurity," Citi analysts said.

    The analysts noted the "outage will garner more political/regulatory attention" as "software vendors have clearly become so large and so interconnected where events like these are plainly showcasing their influence on the greater economic system."

    Do you have a news tip for Investopedia reporters? Please email us at tips@investopedia.com

    Read more on Investopedia

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    Gistlegit
    Breaking: Oshiomole To PDP: ‘Accept It, Okpebholo Is The People's Choice
    ~2.0 mins read


    In a robust defense of Senator Monday Okpebholo, former Edo State Governor and APC stalwart, Adams Oshiomole, has issued a stark rebuttal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Amid growing criticism and political tension, Oshiomole emphatically declared, “Monday Okpebholo is the man the people want, so deal with it.”
     
    The statement comes in response to the PDP’s ongoing objections to Okpebholo's candidacy, questioning his suitability and the legitimacy of his support. Oshiomole, known for his direct and unapologetic style, did not mince words in his endorsement of Okpebholo.
     
    “Monday Okpebholo has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the people he represents. His record speaks volumes, and the overwhelming support he has garnered is a testament to his effectiveness and dedication. The people have spoken, and it’s clear they stand with Okpebholo,” Oshiomole stated.
     
    Watch Video:
     
    He went on to challenge the PDP’s narrative, asserting that their criticisms are unfounded and merely a reflection of their political frustration and jealousy. “The PDP needs to come to terms with the reality that Monday Okpebholo is the chosen representative of the people. Rather than resorting to baseless accusations and attempts to undermine his credibility, even threatening his life and security, they should respect the democratic process and the will of the electorate,” he added.

     
    Senator Okpebholo, who has been a vocal advocate for various social and infrastructural projects in his constituency, expressed gratitude for Oshiomole's support. “I am honored to have the endorsement of a leader like Adams Oshiomole and now the deputy governor if edo state Phillip Shaibu. My commitment to the people remains unwavering, and I will continue to work tirelessly to fulfill their trust and expectations,” Okpebholo remarked.
     
    The political landscape in Edo State has been highly charged, with both the APC and PDP vying for dominance. Okpebholo’s candidacy has been a focal point of contention, highlighting the broader struggle for political influence in the state.



    Oshiomole’s defense of Okpebholo underscores the APC’s confidence in his leadership and their belief in his ability to deliver on his promises. It also serves as a call to action for Okpebholo’s supporters to rally behind him in the face of opposition.
     
    As the political discourse continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: Monday Okpebholo has emerged as a significant figure in Edo State’s political arena, with a strong backing from influential leaders and a solid base of popular support. Whether the PDP can effectively counter this momentum remains to be seen, but for now, Oshiomole’s message is unequivocal: “Deal with it.”
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    Instablog9ja
    Actress Stella Damasus’ Third Ex-husband, Daniel Ademinokan, Welcomes A Child From His Third Marriage
    ~0.2 mins read

    Actress Stella Damasus’ third ex-husband, Daniel Ademinokan, has welcomed a child from his third marriage.

    Daniel Ademinokan has shared the picture as he celebrate the arrival of the new born.

    Continue reading on Instablog

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    Instablog9ja
    GWR: Nigerian Visual Artist, Dr. Fola David, Has Broken The World Record For The Largest Drawing By An Individual
    ~0.3 mins read

    Nigerian visual artist, Dr. Fola David, has broken the World Record for the Largest Drawing by an individual

    The largest drawing before now by an individual is 629.98 square meters (6781.04 ft’) and was achieved by Ravi Soni (India) in Rajasthan, India, on 30 November 2021. 30 Nov 2021. Now the new record is 689 square meters.

    Continue reading on Instablog

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    Instablog9ja
    Economic Hardship: Nigerian Tiktoker Arrested For Calling For Protest
    ~1.9 mins read

    A Nigerian Tiktoker, Junaidu Abdullahi aka Abusalma, has been remanded in prison custody after posting a viral video calling for mass protest over hardship in the country.

    Daily Nigerian reports that Abusalma was allegedly picked by security agents on Wednesday and subsequently taken to Abuja. Confirming the situation to Daily Nigerian, Abusalma’s relative, Mustapha Hamza, said the Tiktoker is currently remanded at Kurmawa prison in Kano.

    “He left home in a hurry on Wednesday morning after receiving an urgent call around 8:30am. He left without even eating breakfast. That was the last time his family saw him.We reported the matter to the police station, and they immediately made a radio call, declaring him as a missing person.As we continued searching for his whereabouts, I received a call yesterday (Friday) around 5:30pm, with the caller informing me that Junaidu is at Kurmawa prison in Kano. He further revealed that Court 38 Zungeru Road, Kano ordered his remand and adjourned the case till after three weeks.

    Daily Nigerian reports that the Tiktoker recently made a video, saying that any Islamic cleric who spoke against the planned protest should be pulled down from the pulpit. Any religious leader who spoke against peaceful protest over hardship, then he is not part of those suffering. And whoever stops you from expressing your grievances to your leaders through peaceful protest as provided by the constitution, I swear he is not among those who can’t afford a sack of maize at N100,000.

    I personally bought a bag of fertilizer at N49,000. That was the price of a sack of maize in the past. As I speak to you now, I gathered that the price of fertilizer has increased. I am not calling for volence or destr·ction, but we will come out and protest in a lawful manner. It is the responsibility of government to deal with those that cause breakdown of law and order during the protest.

    The government has allowed terrorists to terrorise the people but they are trying to suppress a protest. Protest does not breed 3rrorism or banditry. If protest will lead to overthrow of the government, so be it. Any cleric who preaches against protest, pull him down from the pulpit… Pull him down! Let’s protest peacefully in order to be heard. We are not calling on government to buy cars or planes or yacht for the masses, we are only after the food to eat,” Abusalma said in the viral video.

    But a couple of days after posting the video, Abusalma deleted it and apologised to the Islamic clerics. He also called on people to shun the protest as it may lead to breakdown of law and order.

    Continue reading on Instablog

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