Lead and mold are some of the old toxins that have caused public health concerns over the years. They can cause chronic intoxication with varied complications in the human body system, associated with gastrointestinal complaints, peripheral neuropathy damage, kidney failure problems, and effect on CNS (Safty & Metwally 121). Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) chelation therapy is a recognized treatment for lead poisoning but it’s highly recommended to adopt some good practices in lead production to avoid poisoning (ILA 4). Mould’s best treatment is based on identifying whether it’s active or dormant. Ozonation is the most recommended treatment method for water because of two main reasons: its ability to kill more micro infectious organisms, and the fact that it does not add any chemical substance to water (DCL 44).
Lead is one of the oldest toxins that when one is exposed to, can cause chronic intoxication with multiple complications in the body system. It causes some gastrointestinal-related complaints such as constipation, abdominal discomfort, and colic; and lack of concentration, sudden mood change, and irritability due to its effect on CNS (Safty & Metwally 121). Safety & Metwally also says that it causes peripheral neuropathy associated with tremors, aching muscles, foot, and wrist drops; and other damages on sensitive organs like kidney and heart, thus leading to kidney failure, anemia, and high blood pressure (122). On the other hand, mold that results from dump places has been associated with a high level of allergic diseases and asthma in children who stay indoors most of the time (ILA 2).
A widely recognized treatment for people who have been poisoned by lead is providing them with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) chelation therapy (ILA 4). It is the most effective chelator for removing lead and other heavy metals due to its oxidizing properties that reduce the metals into their insoluble oxides (ILA 5).
Mould’s elimination procedure is to first identify whether it is active or dormant (DCL 8). An active mold is normally soft and wet while a dormant one is an easy to wipe powder-like substance (DCL 9). The recommended method of eliminating an active mold is pulling off of the book-like substance (DCL 11). On the other hand, the dormant one can either; be dried further and blown off, or frozen and then brushed off. Fumigants are not recommended for use since they are toxic, but a mycologist should be consulted to determine the toxicity level of mold if detected in large amounts.
Ozone, a colorless and unstable gas that is comprised of three oxygen atoms is highly reactive. It can oxidize the elements of manganese; iron and sulfur in water that consequently form insoluble particles, removable by simple coagulation, chemical oxidation, and post-filtration (NAS 34). The ozonation process involves the passage of dry and clean air through a high voltage electric discharge, like corona, which consequently creates an ozone concentration of average 1% or 10,000mg/L (NAS 37). In the treatment of large-scale water systems like swimming pools, the corona discharge is normally preferred, while small UV ozonation is mostly applied in small quantities of water. It entails the passage of raw water through a venturi throat which thus creates a vacuum to cause the pulling effect on the water (NAS 38).
Alternatively, the air can be bubbled into the water, and the treatment is completed by post-filtration (NAS 39), a very costly process due to the requirements of many types of equipment. Chlorination is a form of chemical treatment that is used to disinfect water systems like swimming pools and involves the addition of chlorine elements in the water to kill bacteria, viruses, and even amoeba (Koski, Stuart & Ortenzio, 9).
Ozonation is the most recommended method of water treatment as it is more effective in a wider pH range, and reacts rapidly more than chlorine, thus its higher germicidal properties (Koski, Stuart & Ortenzio, 19). Ozone is non-chemical (do not add chemicals to water), easiest and safest to handle commercially available oxidizing agent (NAS 41). Chlorine, which is chemical, has a possibility of reacting with organic compounds present in the water supply systems to result in disinfection byproduct, a somewhat dangerous compound if consumed (42). Another important aspect is that ozone has a special ability to convert bio-refractory organic materials in water to less poisonous biodegradable materials. However, a combination of ozonation and other biological methods of treatment will give both safe and cost-effective water.
Work cited
Koski, T. A., Stuart, L. S. & Ortenzio, L. F (n.d.). Comparison of Chlorine, Bromine, and Iodine as Disinfectants for Swimming Pool Water, Pesticides Regulation Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland. Web.
El-Safty A.M.K. & Metwally F.M. (n.d) Lead- Associated Health Hazards and Immunotoxic Effect among Plumbers. Dept. of Industrial Medicine and Occupational Diseases, Faculty of Med. National Research Center, Cairo University.
International lead association (ILA): Lead- the Facts. Web.
Dartmouth College Library (DCL): Preservation Services handouts/mold causes 6/96 How to combat mold. Web.
NAS. 1987. Drinking Water and Health: Disinfectants and Disinfectant Byproducts. Vol.7. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.