The Great Lead Water Pipe Disaster
by Werner Troesken /
2006 / English / PDF
2.2 MB Download
In
InThe Great Lead Water Pipe Disaster
The Great Lead Water Pipe Disaster, Werner Troesken looks
at a long-running environmental and public health catastrophe: 150
years of lead pipes in local water systems and the associated
sickness, premature death, political inaction, and social denial.
The harmful effects of lead water pipes became apparent almost as
soon as cities the world over began to install them. Doctors and
scientists noted cases of acute illness and death attributable to
lead in public water beginning in the middle of the nineteenth
century, and an editorial in the
, Werner Troesken looks
at a long-running environmental and public health catastrophe: 150
years of lead pipes in local water systems and the associated
sickness, premature death, political inaction, and social denial.
The harmful effects of lead water pipes became apparent almost as
soon as cities the world over began to install them. Doctors and
scientists noted cases of acute illness and death attributable to
lead in public water beginning in the middle of the nineteenth
century, and an editorial in theNew York Herald
New York Herald called for
the city to study the matter after a bizarre illness made headlines
in 1868. But officials took no action for many years. New York
City, for example, did not take any steps to reduce lead levels in
water until 1992, long after the most serious damage had been done.
By then, in any case, much of the old lead pipe had been replaced
with safer materials.
called for
the city to study the matter after a bizarre illness made headlines
in 1868. But officials took no action for many years. New York
City, for example, did not take any steps to reduce lead levels in
water until 1992, long after the most serious damage had been done.
By then, in any case, much of the old lead pipe had been replaced
with safer materials.
Troesken examines the health effects of lead exposure, analyzing
cases from New York City, Boston, and Glasgow and many smaller
towns in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and England. He draws on
period accounts, government reports, court decisions, and economic
and demographic analysis to document the widespread nature of the
problem, the recognized health effects—particularly for pregnant
women and young children—and official intransigence. He presents an
accessible overview of the old and new science of lead
exposure—explaining, for example, why areas with soft water
suffered more harmful effects than areas with hard water. And he
gives us compelling and vivid accounts of the people and politics
involved. The effects of lead in water continue to be felt; many
older houses still have lead service pipes.
Troesken examines the health effects of lead exposure, analyzing
cases from New York City, Boston, and Glasgow and many smaller
towns in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and England. He draws on
period accounts, government reports, court decisions, and economic
and demographic analysis to document the widespread nature of the
problem, the recognized health effects—particularly for pregnant
women and young children—and official intransigence. He presents an
accessible overview of the old and new science of lead
exposure—explaining, for example, why areas with soft water
suffered more harmful effects than areas with hard water. And he
gives us compelling and vivid accounts of the people and politics
involved. The effects of lead in water continue to be felt; many
older houses still have lead service pipes.The Great Lead Water
Pipe Disaster
The Great Lead Water
Pipe Disaster is essential reading for understanding this past
and ongoing public health problem.
is essential reading for understanding this past
and ongoing public health problem.