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To: VA Voter

Yes.

And the Mad Romans also used it for drinking water pipe.

How about that?


16 posted on 06/02/2011 9:25:34 PM PDT by EvasiveManuever (Shakespeare got it wrong. Not the lawyers... journalists.)
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To: EvasiveManuever
"And the Mad Romans also used it for drinking water pipe."

The Romans used lead pipe for hundreds of years and it's thought that rapid calcium carbonate build-up inside the pipes protected them from too much exposure.

They were apparently aware that there was some danger in lead by the time of the 1st emperor Augustus when Vitruvius wrote:

"Water conducted through earthen pipes is more wholesome than that through lead; indeed that conveyed in lead must be injurious, because from it white lead is obtained, and this is said to be injurious to the human system. Hence, if what is generated from it is pernicious, there can be no doubt that itself cannot be a wholesome body. This may be verified by observing the workers in lead, who are of a pallid colour; for in casting lead, the fumes from it fixing on the different members, and daily burning them, destroy the vigour of the blood; water should therefore on no account be conducted in leaden pipes if we are desirous that it should be wholesome."

"Interesting article about possible lead poisoning of Romans"

17 posted on 06/02/2011 10:02:47 PM PDT by Flag_This (Real presidents don't bow.)
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