About Lead Poisoning
Lead can be very harmful to the health of humans, especially children under the age of six. If there are elevated levels of lead in the body, it could lead to lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is one of the most harmful environmental health problems in the United States. Lead is poisonous for the tissues and enzymes in our body, and very high levels of lead in the body can lead to serious health problems.
How Lead Poisoning Occurs
Lead poisoning can occur in any person who has high levels of lead in the body. Lead can enter the body if anyone eats, drinks, or breathes in things that have high concentrations of lead. Lead poisoning is more of a concern in small children, but it can affect adults as well. Lead poisoning is a growing problem, as lead contamination is often found in homes, and most people are not even aware of it. Here are some of the ways by which lead poisoning can occur:
- Drinking Water: The usage of lead pipes can result in elevated levels of lead in your drinking water supply. Although lead pipes have been banned in the United States, there may be many old houses that have lead pipes for plumbing. Taps and faucets can also contain lead, which in turn means more lead in the water. Ingesting lead by way of drinking water accounts for a significant percentage of lead poisoning cases.
- Household Paint: Paint that contains lead has been banned in the United States, but it is still estimated that almost 40% of homes in the US, have lead paint in their homes. Breathing in the fumes of lead paint, and eating chipped or peeled paint can result in lead poisoning. This is especially a grave concern among children than in adults.
- Dust: Lead is present in dust form due to lead paint, from the soil, and also due to various industrial activities that release lead dust into the air. This dust can get on peoples’ hands and enter the body when people cook or eat with their hands.
Other than the above, lead is present in soil, in cosmetics, and also in certain foods. Ceramic containers and china are also known to have lead in them. Use of such containers and dishes can result in the lead being transferred to the food or drink, and can thus enter our bodies, leading to lead poisoning.
Signs of Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning is becoming a very serious concern as it is very difficult to detect. Lead accumulates slowly in the body and can often cause lead poisoning without the affected adult or child exhibiting any severe symptoms. Some of the signs to look out for, which may indicate lead poisoning, are:
1) In children:
- Loss in weight.
- Irritability and unusual sluggishness.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
2) In Adults: Although lead poisoning is more common in children than in adults, it can affect adults too, who may exhibit the following signs:
- Loss in memory and difficulty in remembering things
- Loss of appetite
- Headaches
- Loss in muscular strength
- Abdominal pain
- Tingling fingers and toes
- Reproductive problems and infertility, especially in men
Determining Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning may be difficult to detect, but if you do suspect lead poisoning, you can get your doubts confirmed by a simple blood test. A blood test to determine the levels of lead in your blood, could determine whether or not lead poisoning has occurred. Treating lead poisoning is also not very difficult, and usually just involves reducing exposure to lead contamination (medication may be required for serious lead poisoning).
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