All About Lead (Pb)

All About Lead (Pb):

Lead is a bluish-white lustrous metal. It is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity. It is very resistant to corrosion but tarnishes upon exposure to air. Lead is used in pipes, car batteries, and in certain grades of gasoline. Lead occurs naturally in the environment but is usually found due to causes of human activity. A major source of lead comes from gasoline burned by cars through exhaust. Its harmful effects are a reason why this type of gas is being phased out. Lead is one out of four metals that have the most damaging effects on human health. It can enter the human body through uptake of food (65%), water (20%) and air (15%). Some of these harmful effects include kidney damage, miscarriage, brain damage, and high blood pressure. Lead also gives way to detrimental effects on the environment. Leaded gasoline causes lead concentrations in the environment to rise. Other activities including fuel combustion, industrial processes, and solid waste combustion also contribute. Lead can end up on water and soil through the corrosion of pipelines and leaded paints. It also accumulates in the organisms that live in these bodies of water and soil. It is especially dangerous because it can accumulate not only in individual organisms but also in whole food chains.