A traditional medicine called ‘Kamini’ has sparked a health scare in South Australia after a person was hospitalized with severe lead poisoning after consuming it. The product, containing dangerous levels of lead and mercury, is marketed as an energy booster, but its risks have prompted authorities to warn the public and clamp down on its sale and import.
A new study has found alarmingly high levels of lead, arsenic, and mercury in two authenticated locks of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hair. The levels are an order of magnitude higher than normal, and may have contributed to his deafness, gastrointestinal issues, and jaundice. While it’s unlikely that the lead levels were high enough to be the sole cause of death, the researchers believe it may have contributed to the documented ailments that plagued him most of his life.
PFAS contamination, lead poisoning, and worsening river pollution are major concerns in the United States, highlighting systemic failures in safeguarding water resources and protecting public health.
