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“A city of steel, and a heart of lead: an analysis of lead exposure and its effect on cardiovascular disease”

Rowley, Andrew (2022) “A city of steel, and a heart of lead: an analysis of lead exposure and its effect on cardiovascular disease”. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

Exposure to lead has long been known as a human health risk, with the hallmark symptom of disease being neurological impairment. However, there have been developments in the field of medicine that suggest exposure to lead also is responsible for cardiovascular disease, both in onset and increasing the severity thereof. With the levels of ambient exposure to lead from our infrastructure, in soil, lead paint, and lead pipes, there is no shortage of routes of exposure to lead both domestically and abroad. It has long been recognized that no safe level of lead exposure exists, especially in pediatric patients, although recent events in Flint, Michigan, and Pittsburgh, PA, have shown that lead exposure is not just a relic of the past, but a problem that still very much exists in the world today (National Public Radio [NPR], 2016; Pieper et al, 2018; Lidsky & Schneider, 2003; O’Connor, 2018; Flora, Gupta, & Tiwari, 2012; USCDC, 2012).). With the global burden of cardiovascular disease resulting in 1 in 3 deaths in this country and being among the top 10 causes of death across the world, combined with growing speculation that lead exposure is related to the severity and incidence of cardiovascular disease, the questions become is there enough evidence to prove such a claim, and what methods are available to find the truth if it remains unknown. Finally, should there be definitive proof of this link one day, what would the most feasible and reasonable path forward be?


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Details

Item Type: Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Rowley, Andrewapr40@pitt.eduapr40
Contributors:
ContributionContributors NameEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairPeterson, Jamesjimmyp@pitt.edujimmypUNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberBandik, Georgebandik@pitt.edubandikUNSPECIFIED
Date: 16 May 2022
Date Type: Completion
Submission Date: 17 August 2021
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 38
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Environmental and Occupational Health
Degree: MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type: Master Essay
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Lead exposure Heart disease Infrastructure
Date Deposited: 16 May 2022 20:10
Last Modified: 16 May 2022 20:10
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/42344

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