Conference 7.286::digital

>    I've been told that Digital owns the kitchen equipment, which would
>    therefore make DEC liable for any problems arising from high lead
>    levels?                                       

    Liability is something for courts to decide. There are any number
    of people/companies that *could* be found liable. Please refrain
    from any speculation in this area. This conference is considered
    a corporate document.
        
>    Does anyone know the effects of high lead levels in the human body?

    Sickness, mental retardation, even death. It all depends on the
    amount ingested and over what time period.  I don't think Lead leaves
    the body quickly. Sounds like DEC is taking reasonable precautions
    as soon as a potential threat to its employees is discovered.
    
    			Alfred

    Lead CAN be removed from the body fairly quickly, via a process
    called "chelation". There are many chelation agents around. The
    most used one by "holistic health" people (mentioned a lot in
    Prevention magazine) is a regimen of Vitamin C and calcium (several
    grams per day of Vit C, which is somewhat high for most people,
    but perfectly safe - I take 6-10 grams per day myself - and calcium
    tablets, about a gram per day (which is now the MDR of calcium
    for all adults), preferably oyster shell calcium. MILK DOES NOT WORK
    for unknown reasons, probably the fat content. 

    However, anyone concerned should have their blood checked ASAP.
    It is an inexpensive, easy test. If you have a count of more than
    ten (can't remember units, I think it's micrograms per deciliter),
    you should try chelation therapy, described above. There are faster
    chelation therapies, but most of the chemicals used have side effects.
    
    I agree with .1; idle speculation about liability is useless. And
    unless you have incredibly high lead levels in your body, finding
    harm would be difficult at best.
    
    						Jon Campbell

>    Lead CAN be removed from the body fairly quickly, via a process
>   called "chelation". There are many chelation agents around. The

>   Prevention magazine) is a regimen of Vitamin C and calcium (several
>   grams per day of Vit C, which is somewhat high for most people,
>   but perfectly safe - I take 6-10 grams per day myself - and calcium

There is no 'quick fix' for high lead levels. There has been a long and acri-
monious debate about whether megadoses of vitamin C are safe or beneficial,
and it is beyond the scope of this conference to discuss it here. A more ap-
propriate forum would be the Medical conference; I don't know off-hand what
node it's on.  
  The problem with lead is that it accumulates in the body over time. Someone
who already has a higher than normal lead level from sources such as leaded gas
exhaust fumes and lead paint could be at risk from the additional lead from
the coffee urns. There is also a hazard from acidic water leaching lead out of
lead solder joints in pipes. The MRO and HLO plants are taking precautions to
deal with this.

RE: .3
>                      -< Megavitamins not a 'quick fix' >-


>There is no 'quick fix' for high lead levels. There has been a long and acri-
>monious debate about whether megadoses of vitamin C are safe or beneficial,
>and it is beyond the scope of this conference to discuss it here. A more ap-
           ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^
>propriate forum would be the Medical conference; I don't know off-hand what
>node it's on.  
>  The problem with lead ...


  No... the problem is exactly "...beyond the scope of this conference to 
        discuss it here." 

  To dismiss a discussion in this forum, yet include rejoinders and more
  debatable points (including the title) is to engage in what you so
  correctly condemned.

  E'nuff of this.

    
    What about notification of employees who are not currently at PKO,
    but drank a tremendous amount of coffee there in the past two years?
    
    I think this needs a broader notice.
    
    

    
    
    the changed the urns in Hudson for the same reason.
    
    Rpb

    THE CHANGED THE URNS IN MRO FOR THIS REASON.  THEY
    ALSO HAVE BROUGHT IN POLAND SPRING WATER AND HAVE
    TURNED OFF THE WATER FOUNTAINS.
    
    THIS WAS WAY BACK IN JUNE OR JULY.
    
    JUDIE
    
    

>    ALSO HAVE BROUGHT IN POLAND SPRING WATER AND HAVE
>    TURNED OFF THE WATER FOUNTAINS.
   
For more on the situation at MRO1, read note 120.3 in the UCOUNT::MASSACHUSETTS
conference. I didn't hear that they had shut off the water fountains. Does this
problem exist in MRO2 also?

    Damn! And i thought that water fountain at Bedford was just BROKEN!
    
    Where's the spring water dispenser....gurgle gurgle..
    

        Heard on WBZ this AM was a "medical" report that certain paper
        products contained amounts of Dioxin sufficient to pose a
        cancer threat. The Dioxin was said to be present due to the
        bleaching process used on the paper.

        Among the products mentioned were coffee filters, tampons and
        disposable diapers. No brand names mentioned.

        Before you go out in a panic, the last line cautioned you to go
        out and buy one of those gold "permanent" coffee filters to
        "keep cancer out of your coffee"! Also no brand name mentioned
        but I can't think of more than one.

        Yes, it was presented as a serious "medical" report.

Was this AM radio or TV? If radio, was it one of those "Dr. Smith" reports
on the news?

< Note 489.11 by ANGORA::MORRISON "Bob M. LMO2/P41 296-5357" >

>Was this AM radio or TV? If radio, was it one of those "Dr. Smith" reports
>on the news?

        WBZ AM-Stereo. Don't know about Dr. Smith. I admit I wasn't
        paying attention at first so might have also missed a
        disclaimer.

        I think they are discussing this in QUARK::COFFEE also.