Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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A Leaden History. Most of us are aware of the silent death and quiet ailments Due to the Romans' elaborate plumbing systems, using lead pipes To shift water throughout their civilizations. They did not know, but lead is one of the most toxic elements in the Periodic Table-- A great idea, using an easily malleable metal to connect their water labyrinths. Today, an equivalently brilliant idea using exciting color To make a spice more attractive for increasing sales, Has lead (led, no pun) many into a horrible health problem similar to that of the ancients. Bangladeshi women and their children in Flint, Michigan, and in NY City, All had relatively higher levels of lead in their blood, Causing lead-related health problems and death. Why, these people from this part of the world? Much sleuthing and research, but no clues at all. Finally, a female Californian researcher decided to actually go to Bangladesh-- No lead paint on their tin houses, no lead-painted toys, No lead in molded pots, no food with direct lead poisoning. What then? Wholesalers of turmeric began using (1980's) lead chromate powder To brighten the color of the yellow spice. Then later, when floods blackened the turmeric roots, Even more lead chromate was freely used on the harvest. This boosted sales of the artificially yellowed product, But it was literally poisoning the people of Bangladesh-- Who, sadly, were also privately importing this product to the US. Studies were done; miraculously the Bangladashi government stepped in, And this poisoning dropped to almost 0%. Today, more research follows looking at other spices, cosmetics, and painted toys. There is much to be done to ferret out this lead terror-- It pervades our societies, utilizing 7 percent of our US gross national product, With a global cost of $6 trillion, all coping with lead. Who would have known? What else lies out there undiscovered? Frank Maurer 7 October 2024 1230 Hours.