Lead and Smoke

Lead and smoke in the news

Feb. 19, 2024. cleveland.com. Many of Ohio’s marijuana rule changes will likely come via administrative rule, not legislation, lawmaker says. "With Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens roadblocking legislation to alter the state’s new recreational marijuana program, the House’s point person on the issue now predicts most of the changes state officials are seeking will be put in effect via administrative rule instead. [    ] Lt. Gov. Jon Husted’s office is currently soliciting public comments through Feb. 27 on a package of proposed marijuana rules. They include slashing fees for medical marijuana users and caregivers and setting a September deadline for licensing dispensaries and other recreational marijuana facilities, though it wouldn’t necessarily mean sales would start right away. Problems have plagued the opening of medical dispensaries, possibly foretelling issues that could arise for new recreational facilities.

Several recent studies

The contribution of secondhand tobacco smoke to blood lead levels in US children and adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2015–2018. Alexander Obeng, Taehyun Roh, Anisha Aggarwal, Kido Uyasmasi & Genny Carrillo BMC Public Health volume 23, Article number: 1129 (2023) Background: Lead is a major developmental neurotoxicant in children, and tobacco smoke has been suggested as a source of lead exposure in vulnerable populations. This study evaluates the contribution of secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) to blood lead levels (BLLs) in children and adolescents.

September 13, 2023. Clinical Advisor. Secondhand Smoke Increases Lead Levels in Children. "Secondhand smoke may be an important but overlooked source of chronic lead exposure in kids and adolescents. That is the key finding of our recent study, published in the journal BMC Public Health. We analyzed national data on blood lead levels and secondhand smoke exposure in 2815 US children and teenagers ages 6 to 19 years old from 2015 to 2018. We looked at levels of lead and a nicotine metabolite – a substance known as cotinine produced in the body’s chemical process that forms when tobacco smoke is inhaled. Levels of cotinine indicate exposure to tobacco smoke."

Older studies

Lead Poisoning Due to Adulterated Marijuana. Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of 16 Patients with Lead Intoxication. "As a consequence of strict regulations, lead intoxication has not occurred in Germany in recent decades. Recently, during a period of 3 to 4 months, 29 patients (16 to 33 years of age) were admitted to four different hospitals in the greater Leipzig area (population, approximately 650,000) with classic signs and symptoms of lead intoxication." 

Studies in process

Aug 15, 2022, Center for Health, Work & Environment. Researchers from the Center for Health, Work & Environment (CHWE) at the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) have received funding from the Institute for Cannabis Research (ICR) to study the potential exposure to heavy metals from smoking or vaping cannabis.  The three-year study aims to evaluate the risk of health effects from cannabis consumption (smoking or vaping) contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, nickel, cadmium, manganese, uranium. It is the first known human health risk assessment to evaluate the large number of heavy metals that may be present in cannabis flower, concentrates and vape devices.