In general lead intoxication occurs after swallowing or inhalation of even
small amounts of this element, however there are reports of ocupational
intoxication as well:
The major source of lead is occupational exposure from jobs dealing with
lead and lead-based components; there is a high prevalence of lead toxicity
in the population exposed to such activities. Occupational exposure of
workers is seen in the manufacturing of lead batteries and cables, as well
as rubber and plastic products. Soldering and foundry work, such as casting,
forging, and grinding activities, are also associated with occupational
exposures. Construction workers involved in painting or paint stripping,
plumbing, welding, and cutting are also exposed to lead.
So not only inhaling or swallowing is toxic but touching, rubbing, grinding
activities as well. Even if we don't believe in skin penetration by small
particules we still have a chance to rub our nose or touch unconciously our
lips after some session of playing.
If you have any doubts just read this:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/410113-overview
Best
Jaroslaw
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alexander Batov" <alexander.ba...@vihuelademano.com>
To: <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 5:35 PM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Laurent de La Hyre
As compared to modern day's levels of mercury contamination in the air (in
particular in such big places like London where hundreds of thousands, if
not more, of strip lights and 'new generation' light bulbs are getting
replaced and simply chucked off in skips daily!) the effect from the
mercury / lead loaded strings would simply count next to nothing.
By the way, I'm not a toxicologist :) So no responsibilities accepted ...
AB
Martyn Hodgson wrote:
Regarding the use of mercury (or lead) to load a gut string: if it
were
a problem wouldn't we have seen at least some contemporary reports of
professional lutenists with poisining symptoms - I'm not aware of any.
But perhaps the amount of mercuric compound is so relatively small
(unlike with the hatters who rubbed raw mercury into hats with their
fingers) that there's no noticeable effect. Surely a toxologist should
be able to inform us....
MH
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