What Is It?
Lead is a metal that is poisonous (toxic) when breathed in or eaten by humans. Lead gets into the bloodstream and is stored in the organs, tissues, bones and teeth. With increasing or prolonged exposure, this toxin can cause:
The leading source of exposure to lead is lead-based paint, which was outlawed for residential use in 1978, but remains in some older homes. The main hazard is paint dust, which enters the air when old paint is scraped, sanded or begins to flake.
People can get lead into their bodies in other ways, such as drinking water from pipes that are made of lead or use lead solder, using ceramic dishes made with lead, playing in lead-contaminated soil, using lead in hobbies or crafts such as making stained glass, or by using certain home remedies that contain lead. Even unusual sources, such as lead-contaminated spices purchased in foreign countries, have been reported.
Children face the most serious risk because their growing bodies absorb more lead. Young children, especially toddlers, play on the floor and tend to put objects in their mouths that may be covered with lead dust. If lead paint is flaking, small children sometimes eat the sweet tasting paint chips or chew on painted surfaces, such as windowsills.
Adults who have high lead levels in their blood usually were exposed in the workplace. Industries with a high potential for exposure include construction that involves welding, cutting, blasting or other disturbances of surfaces painted with lead; smelter operations; radiator repair shops; and firing ranges. Young children can be exposed to lead when parents who work in these areas carry lead dust home on their clothes and shoes.
A woman who had lead poisoning can pass lead on to her fetus if she becomes pregnant, even if she no longer is exposed to lead. This happens because more than 90% of the lead may be stored in the bones and then released into the bloodstream years later.
Since lead was banned in gasoline and residential paint, average blood levels of lead have dropped dramatically in the United States. Nevertheless, 2006 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 1.21% of children younger than 6 years old in the United States(around 40,000 children) had levels of 10 micrograms per deciliter or more in their bloodstream. This level is known to be hazardous. Recent studies suggest that lower levels may be harmful, and pediatricians are encouraged to look carefully for possible sources of lead exposure, and monitor children whose lead level is approaching 10 very closely.
Symptoms
Children with blood lead levels of 10 micrograms per deciliter to 25 micrograms per deciliter usually do not show any obvious symptoms of too much lead in the body. The damage may not be obvious and only becomes noticed at school age, when the child shows signs of possible learning disabilities, behavioral problems or mental retardation.
The effect of lead on young children has been estimated as an average loss of 2 to 3 IQ points for each 10 micrograms of blood lead per deciliter. At higher exposures, children may experience:
Adults with blood lead levels of 40 micrograms per deciliter to 50 micrograms per deciliter may display some of the same symptoms, or any of the following:
Diagnosis
A doctor who thinks someone has lead poisoning will do a physical examination and ask about symptoms, medical history, potential environmental exposure to lead, diet and (in children) any learning or behavior problems. Lead poisoning is diagnosed with a simple blood test.
Because there are often no early symptoms, a blood test is the best way to identify children at risk of lead poisoning at an early stage, typically starting at age 6 months to 12 months. Lead screening guidelines vary from state to state, but the minimum screening is at 1 and 2 years. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children under age 6 be tested for lead if they:
Expected Duration
It may take several weeks, months or years for lead to leave the body, even after there is no further exposure.
Prevention
To prevent lead poisoning, avoid or minimize exposure to lead. Remove lead paint or contain it with frequent cleaning:
Treatment
For all cases of lead exposure, the most important step is to remove the source of lead. When this is done, treatment is not usually necessary if the blood lead level is less than 20. However, repeat blood tests to be sure the amount of lead in the bloodstream stays low. Higher levels of lead in the bloodstream may need to be treated by taking a drug that binds to the lead and helps the body to remove it. This process is called chelation therapy. Doctors decide whether to use chelation therapy on a case-by-case basis. Very high levels of lead (70 or greater), sometimes require hospitalization to begin therapy.
After treatment and/or removal of the environmental lead source, the doctor normally will do more blood lead tests to follow the progress until the blood lead level is no longer too high. Besides recommending a nutritious diet, the doctor also may recommend iron or calcium supplements. If a child with lead poisoning has iron-deficiency anemia, it is very important that the anemia be treated, as this puts the child at higher risk.
When To Call a Professional
If you are the parent or guardian of a child under age 6, make sure he or she visits a health professional regularly to discuss possible risks of lead poisoning and gets tested if necessary. See the child's doctor immediately if you notice symptoms of lead poisoning or suspect that the child has been exposed to lead.
Prognosis
The outlook for children with lead poisoning depends on the amount of lead in the body, how long the child was exposed and how the child responsed to treatment. Children with brief, low-level exposures usually recover completely. Many children with low to moderate lead exposure for prolonged periods have decreased intellectual function. Even with appropriate treatment, children with high levels of blood lead can have severe, irreversible brain damage.
Additional Info
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098
Phone: 847-434-4000
Fax: 847-434-8000
Email: kidsdocs@aap.org
http://www.aap.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
4676 Columbia Parkway
Mail Stop C-18
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Toll-Free: 1-800-356-4674
Fax: 513-533-8573
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
National Safety Council
1121 Spring Lake Drive
Itasca, IL 60143-3201
Phone: 630-285-1121
Fax: 630-285-1315
Email: info@nsc.org
http://www.nsc.org/
U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
200 Constitution Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20210
Phone: 202-693-1999
Toll-Free: 1-800-321-6742
TTY: 1-877-889-5627
http://www.osha.gov/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-272-0167
http://www.epa.gov/
