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Blake, Wm. Lamech and His Two Wives. 1795.

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Studies have linked lead poisoning to over one million deaths each year, with figures escalating to nearly 5.5 million adults affected by lead-related health complications.

This neurotoxin, common in old paint and pipes that are in millions of homes, continues to leach into environments, harming millions by mimicking calcium in the body, disrupting critical bodily functions, and causing diseases like Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

In the U.S., inconsistent lead testing protocols and the lack of universal screening contribute to delayed detection and prevention of lead exposure, often allowing irreversible damage before intervention.

Innovations like a handheld device developed for noninvasive bone lead measurement show promise for better monitoring and prevention.