Human lead exposure in a late 19th century mental asylum population.
Lead isotope ratios and lead (Pb) levels were analyzed in 33 individuals from a forgotten cemetery at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, Colorado dating to 1879-1899. Isotopic ratios from healing bone fractures, cortical bone, and tooth dentine provide information about sources of Pb exposures over a range of time that illuminates individual's life histories and migration patterns. Historical records and Pb production data from the 19th century were used to create a database for interpreting Pb exposures for these African, Hispanic and European Americans. The analysis of these individuals suggests that Pb exposure noticeably impacted the mental health of 5-10% of the asylum patients in this frontier population, a high number by standards today, and that differences exist in the three ancestral groups' exposure histories.
Bower
Nathan W
NW
Department of Chemistry, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3294, USA. nbower@coloradocollege.edu
McCants
Sarah A
SA
Custodio
Joseph M
JM
Ketterer
Michael E
ME
Getty
Stephen R
SR
Hoffman
J Michael
JM
D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry; D003120:Colorado; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D009027:Mortuary Practice; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry
D007854:Lead