Latest news with #lead
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Shock autism and Alzheimer's link in bombshell study: Doctors sound alarm over common 'cause' and name cities most at risk
Exposure to a toxic metal as far back as childhood could raise the risk of developing dementia later in life, a first-of-its-kind study suggests. Researchers in Canada studied more than 600,000 older US adults who were exposed as children to high levels of lead, a toxic metal linked to autism, infertility and cancer. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2025: DECADES-OLD LEAD POLLUTION LINKED TO MEMORY PROBLEMS IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY FINDS
Key Takeaways TORONTO, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Historic lead levels from the era of leaded gasoline may be contributing to cognitive issues 50 years later, suggests research reported for the first time at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference ® 2025 (AAIC®), in Toronto and online. Americans are about 20% more likely to experience memory problems if they lived in areas with high levels of atmospheric lead between 1960 and 1974, according to the analysis of more than 600,000 adults 65 and older. ' Research suggests half the U.S. population — more than 170 million people — were exposed to high lead levels in early childhood. This research sheds more light on the toxicity of lead related to brain health in older adults today,' said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead. 'Other studies reported at AAIC 2025 suggest that (a) lead exposure at any point in life may cause cognitive problems, (b) it may be more likely to affect certain populations and reflect disparities, and (c) there is a biological connection between lead exposure and Alzheimer's.' Historic levels of lead air pollution are associated with memory problems 50 years later In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers examined how exposure to airborne lead from 1960-1974 — when leaded gasoline use was at its highest — may affect brain health later in life. They determined that older adults who grew up in areas with moderate to extremely high historical atmospheric lead levels (HALL) were about 20% more likely to report memory problems as adults 50 years later. The researchers calculated the average HALL by area and linked it to self-reported memory problems from the American Community Survey from 2012-2017 (368,208 people) and 2018-2021 (276,476 people). They didn't analyze the source of the lead but believe that the higher the density of automobile traffic, such as in urban areas, the higher the atmospheric lead. Factoring in both time periods, the researchers determined that 17-22% of people living in areas with moderate, high or extremely high atmospheric lead reported memory issues. 'Our study may help us understand the pathways that contribute to some people developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease,' said Eric Brown, M.D., MSc, FRCPC, lead author of the study, associate scientist and associate chief of geriatric psychiatry at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto. Lead was originally added to gasoline to increase performance until researchers determined it posed serious risks to health and the environment. The more than 20-year-long phase-out of leaded gas began in 1975 when all new cars sold in the U.S. were required to have catalytic converters. 'When I was a child in 1976, our blood carried 15 times more lead than children's blood today,' said Esme Fuller-Thomson, Ph.D., senior author of the study and a professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Ientash Faculty of Social Work and director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging. 'An astonishing 88% of us had levels higher than 10 micrograms per deciliter, which are now considered dangerously high.' While the risk of atmospheric lead has decreased, other sources of exposure remain, such as old lead paint and pipes. Those who have been exposed to atmospheric lead should focus on reducing other risk factors for dementia, including high blood pressure, smoking and social isolation, said Brown. Living near lead-polluting sites may affect memory Another study reported at AAIC found that older adults who live about three miles from a lead-releasing facility — such as glass, ready-mixed concrete or computer and electronics manufacturers — are more likely to have memory and thinking problems than those who live farther away. This research, which focused on a racially and ethnically diverse group of older adults, reinforces concerns about the long-term cognitive impact of environmental lead exposure, especially in communities already facing health disparities. Researchers assessed 2,379 patients (average age ~74 years) from two studies: the Kaiser Health Aging and Diverse Life Experienced study (KHANDLE, 1,638 patients) of a diverse group of Kaiser Permanente insurance plan members who live in northern California, and the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR, 741 patients) study of Black adults age 50 and older who live in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas. They evaluated the participants' proximity to the nearest lead-releasing facility and compared the distance to participants' Neuropsychological Assessment Scales results at baseline and two years later. Compared to two years earlier, the KHANDLE participants who lived within 5 km (just over three miles) of a lead-releasing facility scored 0.15 times lower on verbal episodic memory tests (recall of personal experiences), and 0.07 times lower on overall cognitive ability compared to those living farther away. Every 5 km farther a participant lived from a lead-releasing facility was associated with 5% higher memory scores two years later. Among STAR group participants living within 5 km of a lead-releasing facility, researchers observed a 0.20 times lower score on semantic memory (general knowledge) two years later, compared to those who lived farther away. 'Our results indicate that lead exposure in adulthood could contribute to worse cognitive performance within a few years,' said Kathryn Conlon, Ph.D., MPH, senior author and associate professor of environmental epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. 'Despite tremendous progress on lead abatement, studies have shown there is no safe level of exposure, and half of U.S. children have detectable levels of lead in their blood. Additionally, there are regions and neighborhoods that have more exposure.' According to Conlon, there were 7,507 lead-releasing facilities in the U.S. in 2023. To reduce exposure, Conlon said people living near lead-producing facilities should keep their homes clean to avoid the accumulation of lead-contaminated dust, remove their shoes when coming inside, and place dust mats inside and outside to avoid tracking lead-contaminated dust indoors. Use the Environmental Protection Agency's TRI Toxics Tracker to identify lead-releasing facilities near you. Study reveals how lead exposure may set the stage for Alzheimer's Even low levels of lead exposure can create permanent changes in brain cells, including increased buildup of abnormal tau and amyloid beta, which are proteins associated with Alzheimer's, suggests a third study reported at AAIC 2025. The researchers exposed human brain cells to lead concentrations of zero, 15 and 50 parts per billion (ppb), simulating the kind of lead exposure people might experience through contaminated water or air. The EPA's action level for lead in drinking water is 15 ppb. They ran molecular, genetic, biochemical and functional tests on the cells and determined that (a) the 15-ppb and 50-ppb lead-exposed neurons were more electrically active (suggesting early dysfunction) than those that had no exposure, (b) energy-producing cells were damaged, and (c) there was an increase in tau and amyloid beta. Even after the lead was removed, the cells remained primed for damage, responding more severely to additional stressors such as tau. 'These findings help explain how lead exposure, especially in early life or from occupational and environmental sources, might leave a lasting molecular imprint on the brain making it more vulnerable to age-related diseases like Alzheimer's,' said Junkai Xie, Ph.D., lead author of the study and post-doctoral research associate in chemical engineering at Purdue University. 'Our results show that lead exposure isn't just a short-term concern; it may set the stage for cognitive problems decades later.' About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® (AAIC®) The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community. AAIC 2025 home page: AAIC 2025 newsroom: AAIC 2025 hashtag: #AAIC25 About the Alzheimer's Association® The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit or call 800.272.3900. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Resources Top 5: Broken Hill Mines debut sees 120-year-old mining operation back on the ASX
BHM has the drill spinning in a bid to increase silver, lead and zinc resources at the Pinnacles mine What could be a very significant Channel Iron Deposit discovery has been made by PGD AIV has declared a maiden inferred resource of 8.5Mt at 1.13g/t gold for 310,000 ounces at Mt Hogan deposit Your standout small cap resources stocks for Monday, July 21, 2025 Broken Hill Mines (ASX:BHM) After 120 years of mining silver, lead and zinc, and being the birthplace of mining giant BHP, Broken Hill is again directly represented on the stock exchange after producer and explorer Broken Hill Mines made its debut. And it turned heads, opening at 47.5c and reaching 51.5c in early trade, a 454% increase on the previous close of predecessor Coolabah Metals with more than 8m shares exchanged. BHM has quickly got to work, with the drill spinning in a bid to increase silver, lead and zinc resources at the Pinnacles mine west of the mining stronghold of Broken Hill and its existing Rasp underground mine. A 4000m program is aimed at growing the size and grade of its current 6Mt resource at the Pinnacles, which runs at an impressive 10.9% ZnEq. As well as 4.7% zinc, the resource includes 153g/t silver, 3.3% lead and 0.5g/t gold. BHM also has another 3000m of earlier drill core from Pinnacles in the queue for assays, with first results expected in the next month or so. This new drilling follows results released earlier this year including 8.9m at 927g/t Ag, 12.2% Pb and 1.3% Zn from 11 metres. Broken Hill Mines (ASX:BHM) listed on the ASX after a reverse takeover of Coolabah Metals, which consolidated two of three mining companies that control the silver, lead and zinc operations at Broken Hill. The reverse float included the injection of $20m in fresh capital from investors. While Pinnacles is set to play a role in future growth, the Rasp underground mine with access and surface facilities on the town's Line of Lode is the flagship. The mine produces around 25,000tpa of zinc equivalent metal, but there are plenty of opportunities to improve the outlook. Despite the Rasp plant's 750,000tpa capacity, the project has been campaign milled since 2020 and ore feed grades are around 6% ZnEq. 'We bought an operating mine, a going concern, we've got 120 staff on day one and a hungry plant,' executive chairman Patrick Walta told Stockhead recently. 'The whole philosophy is about utilisation of sunk capital. We have this beautiful plant that's really had 500 million bucks spent on it over the years and it's only about 12 years old. ' It is only fed by one orebody and it's a relatively low-grade ore body by Broken Hill standards.' That source – Western Mineralisation – runs at around 8.2% ZnEq, including 4.8% zinc, 3.1% lead and 38g/t silver. Yet the Main Lode grades 17.7% ZnEq, including 870,000t of ore at 7.8% zinc, 7.6% lead and 151.7g/t silver. Walta said the mine made $20 million in operating cashflow last year with a plant running at around 40% of total capacity. When the Main Lode is online it will introduce not just more ore but ore running at 2.5x the grade. Peregrine Gold (ASX:PGD) While chasing gold in the Pilbara region of WA, Peregrine Gold has made what could be a very significant Channel Iron Deposit discovery just 2km from BHP's Western Ridge asset, close to the town of Newman. This has seen securities increase 70.28% to a 12-month high of 31.5c. Stream sediment sampling followed by further sampling and mapping by Peregrine geologists has resulted in the CID being mapped over a total strike length of 6.4km and widths of up to 200m with a further 1.3km of strike interpreted in magnetics. Peregrine Gold (ASX:PGD) believes the discovery was missed by previous exploration programs and GSWA mapping due to its low topographical position. Historical CID work focused on the mesas in the area to the northeast but PGD said the recent discovery represented a better preserved and far larger scale CID system than historical mesa-style CIDs and could represent a 'Valley Type' system. Geochemical data of the CID samples has shown the material is of a consistently high grade – peaking above 61% Fe – with all CID samples taken averaging ~57% Fe. Levels of deleterious elements are also low and considered within the parameters for high quality iron ore deposits. It is anticipated that subject to drill testing, the depth of the CID channel may be substantially thicker in the central parts of the channel which are up to 200m wide. Recent corporate movements have drawn attention to CZR Resources' (ASX:CZR) sale of its 85% holding in the Robe River Mesa Channel Iron Deposit for ~$75m. Positioned next to Rio Tinto's Robe Valley operations and near major infrastructure, Peregrine believes Robe Mesa provides a useful point of reference. Early indications suggest Peregrine's CID discovery has a scale that compares favourably to Robe Mesa. 'Our objective moving forward will be to advance the Coopers CID prospect as quickly as possible,' PGD technical director George Merhi said. ActivEX (ASX:AIV) A maiden JORC-compliant inferred resource of 8.5Mt at 1.13g/t gold for 310,000oz at Mt Hogan deposit resulted in ActivEX (ASX:AIV) soaring to a two-year high of 3.2c, a staggering 358% increase on the pre-trading halt close. The historic Mt Hogan mine forms part of the Gilberton gold joint venture with Gilberton Gold Pty Ltd. The project is in northeast Queensland, about 300km from Townsville. 'The journey towards our maiden gold resource commenced in 2022 when the company made the decision to focus exploration efforts in the vicinity of the Mt Hogan gold mine,' AIV MD Mark Derriman said. 'Three phases of RC/core drilling culminated with the most recent RC drilling program in November 2023. 'Incoming JV partner Gilberton Gold Pty Ltd have been crucial to funding the project and will take over management of operations going forward with the next round of drilling planned to commence late in Q3 2025 and will comprise both RC and core drilling.' Caprice Resources (ASX:CRS) An 11m intersection grading 17.3g/t gold from 170m at Vadrian's deposit of the Island gold project in WA's Murchison region has seen Caprice Resources (ASX:CRS) lift 37.5% to 6.6c with more than 45m shares changing hands. As well as this being the company's best intercept to date at Vadrian's, the first batch of assays from phase 3 drilling confirmed the recent discovery of the Evening Star high-grade lode. Other results include 10m at 11.7g/t Au from 175m and 9m at 8.3g/t from 94m. These have doubled the strike of the high-grade system to at least 350m and extended mineralisation at depth where it remains open in multiple directions. Drilling to follow-up the strike extent and grade potential of historical anomalous gold mineralisation about 80m west of the main New Orient lode has also returned notable intersections such as 21m at 1.3g/t gold from 29m. Tivan (ASX:TVN) A second collaboration between Tivan (ASX:TVN) and Sumitomo Corporation covering TVN's Australian fluorite projects has seen shares increase 31% to 11c. The leading Japanese trading house and Fortune Global 500 company has signed agreements for the Sandover Fluorite Project in the NT and Speewah Fluorite Project in WA. An MoU for Sandover, a high-grade fluorite project acquired by Tivan in November 2024, will see the companies discuss the collaborative development, financing and operation of the project to be formalised through negotiating commercial agreements following delivery of a pre-feasibility study. Tivan is working to define a deposit supportive of fluorite mining and processing at Sandover, focused on an expedited pathway to produce metspar and a traditional acid-grade fluorspar production pathway. At Speewah the parties have established an incorporated joint venture, including Japan Fluorite Corporation (JFC), a special purpose subsidiary incorporated by Sumitomo, making an initial $5.3m equity investment for a 7.5% interest. In parallel, Sumitomo has agreed to the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) becoming a partner in Speewah through acquiring a 49% equity interest in JFC. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent financial advice before making any financial decisions. While Broken Hill Mines, Peregrine Gold and Caprice Resources are Stockhead advertisers, they did not sponsor this article.
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Break it Down: Broken Hill Mines quick to move after ASX debut
Stockhead's Break it Down brings you today's leading market news in under 90 seconds. In this episode, host Tylah Tully looks at the latest from Broken Hill Mines (ASX:BHM), which has made its ASX debut and hit the ground running with exploration at Pinnacles West, targeting silver, lead and zinc. Watch the video to learn more. While Broken Hill Mines is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this content. Originally published as Break it Down: Broken Hill Mines quick to move after ASX debut
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
PA warns families about lead in Walmart kids' bikes. Do you have one?
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is urging parents to check their children's bicycles after a recent federal recall of SPPTTY brand kids' bikes due to dangerously high levels of lead. Roughly 200 of the bikes were sold exclusively online through between August and December of 2024, retailing for about $85. The bikes — pink with brown seats, handlebars, pedals and baskets — were sold in 14-inch and 18-inch sizes and are marked with the brand 'SPPTTY' and 'New Sport Bike' on the frame. Multiple parts of the bikes, as well as the black paint used on the accompanying pumps, contain lead levels that exceed federal safety standards, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 'Lead is harmful if ingested and poses significant risks to children's health,' Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen said in the state's recall announcement. Even at low levels, lead exposure can impair learning, hearing and growth. At high levels, it can cause convulsions, coma and even death. More: Most Bucks County babies aren't tested for lead exposure — but more should be: Report The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends that parents of children who may have used the recalled bikes contact their child's health care provider to discuss whether a blood lead test is needed. Shenzhen Yihuachuang Technology, the Chinese manufacturer behind the bikes, also produces other children's products, including play kitchens and highchairs. The company is offering a full refund for the recalled bikes for consumers who dismantle the bikes, photograph the destroyed parts and email proof to lishkjie@ Bike parts should then be disposed of through a local hazardous waste program, not regular trash pickup. In Bucks County, the next household hazardous waste collection event is scheduled for Aug. 9 in Fairless Hills. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsylvania warns families over lead in Walmart kids' bikes
