“Zombie cicadas” infected with mind-controlling fungus return to West Virginia

Re:“Zombie cicadas” infected with mind-controlling fungus re... by simion314 on Sunday August 02, 2020 @05:46PM (#24032053)

Thanks, I never made the connection between the plumbum(lead is called plumb in my native language) and plumbing. Anyway to confirm this I done some searching and yes, romans)and others) had plumbing and running water and used lead pipes too(though the lead in wine gives you much more poisoning where pipes are toxic only in certain circumstances)

https://www.quora.com/Did-Roman-Byzantine-plumbing-extend-to...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_lead_pipe_inscription

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:“Zombie cicadas” infected with mind-controlling fungus re... by jaclaz on Monday August 03, 2020 @08:25AM (#24036809)

Only for the record, lead pipes have been extensively used (for drinkable water) till well into the 20th century.

The inner surface of the pipes soon form a sort of lining that is normally not dangerous/poisoining.

The amount of lead now admissable in EU is 10 micrograms per liter, but - at least here (Italy) - until 2013 was 25 micrograms per liter.

Usually only in some particular cases (acidic waters and "stagnation" in the pipes) some relevant amounts of lead are transferred to the water.

Drinking or eating from polished lead tableware is another thing.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:“Zombie cicadas” infected with mind-controlling fungus re... by solstice on Sunday August 02, 2020 @07:54PM (#24032810)

I also heard that Roman middle classes who couldn't afford silver used leaden plates to eat off of. As lead very quickly develops an airtight patina, this is much worse than plumbing (which after installation of basically never touched) because knives, forks and just general friction of handling the plates causes the Patina to be scraped off and the food to be exposed to lead.

[ Parent | on HN ]