Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Lead poisoning – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717

  Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. […] Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, but human activity mining, burning fossil fuels and manufacturing has caused it to become more widespread. […] Lead-based paints for homes, children’s toys and household furniture have been banned in the United States since 1978. […] Lead pipes, brass plumbing fixtures and copper pipes soldered with lead can release lead particles into tap water. […] Lead sometimes can also be found in soil. Lead particles from leaded gasoline or paint settle on soil and can last years. […] Lead is sometimes found in toys and other products produced abroad. […] Lead poisoning has been linked to greta and azarcon, traditional Hispanic medicines, as well as some from India, China and other countries. […] Lead can harm an unborn child.

• #1 Lead toxicity: a review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4961898/

  Lead toxicity is an important environmental disease and its effects on the human body are devastating. There is almost no function in the human body which is not affected by lead toxicity. […] Lead is a highly poisonous metal affecting almost every organ in the body. Of all the organs, the nervous system is the mostly affected target in lead toxicity, both in children and adults. […] Long-time exposure to lead has been reported to cause anaemia, along with an increase in blood pressure, and that mainly in old and middle aged people. Severe damage to the brain and kidneys, both in adults and children, were found to be linked to exposure to heavy lead levels resulting in death. […] Poisoning due to lead occurs mainly by ingestion of food or water contaminated with lead. However accidental ingestion of contaminated soil, dust or lead based paint may also result in poisoning.

• #1

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health

  Exposure to lead can affect multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of child-bearing age. […] Lead exposure was attributed to more than 1.5 million deaths globally in 2021, primarily due to cardiovascular effects. […] There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects. […] The harmful impacts on health from lead exposure are entirely preventable. […] Important sources of environmental contamination include mining, smelting, manufacturing and recycling activities, and lead use in a range of products. […] Lead exposure during pregnancy can cause reduced fetal growth and preterm birth. […] Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning as they may absorb up to 45 times as much lead as adults from an ingested dose.

• #1 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, Testing & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11312-lead-poisoning

  Lead poisoning is caused by exposure to high levels of lead. […] Lead poisoning is usually caused by eating or drinking (ingesting) lead, but touching or breathing in the toxic metal can also cause it. […] Lead can also contaminate: Herbal remedies or medicines, Toys and candies from foreign countries, Stained glass, Leaded crystal glassware, Glazed ceramic ware, including plates, pitchers and cups. […] The United States banned lead-based paint in 1978. […] Children mainly get lead poisoning by swallowing and/or absorbing lead-based paint used in houses that were built before 1978. […] Adults can get lead poisoning by being exposed to lead through eating food and drinking water contaminated with lead. […] Lead poisoning in adults can lead to serious health effects.

• #1 Common Sources of Lead Poisoning | Washington State Department of Health

  https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/lead/common-sources-lead-poisoning

  Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust are the most common sources of lead poisoning. Paint containing lead was not banned in the United States until 1978. Homes built before 1978 have a good chance of having lead-based paint, which can chip, peel or flake. […] Children may be exposed to lead through contaminated soil when they play outside. Lead in dirt clings to fingers, toys, and other objects children normally put in their mouths. Lead can get in soil from: deteriorating lead-based paint around buildings and old playground equipment, leaded gasoline near busy roads, leaks from underground storage tanks, lead-acid battery recycling facilities, and smoke and dust from industries, such as lead ore mining and milling, smelting, municipal solid waste incinerators. […] Some toys and toy jewelry contain levels of lead that may have a serious health risk to children.

• #1 Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water | US EPA

  https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

  Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. […] A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child. […] In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells. […] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (g/dL) or more. […] EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person’s total exposure to lead.

• #1 Lead Toxicity: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174752-overview

  The most significant lead exposure in adults usually occurs at the workplace, whereas for children, other forms of environmental exposure are more important. Although lead toxicity can occur after a single event, it is usually a result of chronic exposure. […] Sites and occupations associated with lead exposure include pipe cutting, lead mining and ore crushing, lead and copper smelting, welding operations, construction, the rubber industry, the plastic industry, radiator repair, battery manufacturing, soldering of lead products, the printing industry, glass manufacture, organic lead production, solid waste combustion, frit manufacture, and paint and pigment manufacture. Persons employed in these occupations may also expose family members to lead by transporting lead dust from the workplace to their homes.

• #1 Unusual Sources of Lead Poisoning | Poison Control

  https://www.poison.org/articles/unusual-sources-of-lead-poisoning

  At one time, the usual sources of lead poisoning were lead paint and leaded gasoline. Now, more unusual sources of lead poisoning include jewelry, cosmetics, imported herbal and traditional medicines, and even hobby supplies. […] Unusual sources of lead can cause effects ranging from mild abdominal symptoms to seizures, coma, and death. […] In recent years, lead poisoning in the U.S. has been caused by a variety of items. […] Children’s jewelry containing lead has caused lead poisoning and even death. Some imported cosmetics have been contaminated with lead; examples include kohl, used as eye liner, and sindoor, a red powder used on the scalp by married Hindi women. […] For example, azarcon and greta are used to treat empacho (stomach symptoms); both contain a substantial amount of lead. Many herbal medicines from India (64% in one study) contain lead.

• #1 Common Sources of Lead – MN Dept. of Health

  https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/fs/common.html

  Some traditional or cultural medicine and cosmetics contain lead and should not be used. […] Individuals who have recently moved from or spent time in another country may have a greater risk for lead exposure, depending on the environmental regulations and sources of exposure in that country. […] Adults can be exposed to lead through certain jobs or hobbies where lead is used, such as construction or lead smelting; radiator or auto repair shops; recycling batteries; refinishing antiques; working in shooting ranges; and making ammunition or fishing sinkers. […] Pica is when an adult or child chews or ingests non-food items such as soil, clay, or pieces of housing material such as paint chips, drywall, or baseboards. […] There are other items containing lead that Children may put in their mouths.

• #1 Lead Toxicity: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174752-overview

  Exposure from lead-based paint was significant among children in the past. Although lead was banned from use in residential paint, it continues to be used in nonresidential settings, and as a result of its past use, lead paint can still be found in many older homes. […] Lead from the atmosphere may contaminate bodies of water and equally important, the leaching of lead from water pipes may cause poisoning. […] One of the worst public waterworks failures occurred in Flint, Michigan causing widespread lead poisoning. […] Soil contaminated with lead can be an important source of lead exposure. Such soil contamination may occur surrounding lead smelters and around older homes with deterioration of exterior surfaces. […] Several reports exist of lead poisoning that develops as the result of absorption of lead from retained bullet or shrapnel fragments. […] The most significant lead exposure in adults usually occurs at the workplace, whereas for children, other forms of environmental exposure are more important.

• #1 Lead toxicity: a review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4961898/

  Occupational exposure is a major source for lead poisoning in adults. […] Lead is a common environmental pollutant. Exposure to lead occurs mainly at occupational sites, production of lead-acid batteries or pipes, metal recycling and foundries. […] Lead poisoning causes a variety of symptoms, including abnormal behaviour which varies from person to person, while time of exposure plays an important role. […] Pregnant women who have elevated blood lead levels are at a risk of premature birth or of babies with a low birth weight. […] Children have been repeatedly reported to be at higher risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are in a state of growth and development. […] The brain is the most sensitive organ to lead exposure. […] Lead toxicity disrupts the functions of the digestive system, nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, etc. […] Lead as such has no physiological role in the body and even smaller levels of lead can cause toxicity.

• #1 Lead poisoning: Symptoms, in children, in adults, causes

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306601

  Lead poisoning happens when lead builds up in the body over time. […] The most common sources are lead-based paint and water pipes in older buildings, lead-based dust, and contaminated water, air, or soil. […] Lead is a natural element found in the earths crust. Human activity such as mining, burning fossil fuels, and manufacturing has made it more widespread and accessible. […] The majority of lead poisoning cases in children are due to eating old lead-based paint chips. […] Brass plumbing fixtures and pipes made or soldered using lead and can release lead into tap water. […] Lead that has arrived in the soil from lead-based gasoline or paint can survive for many years. […] Lead damages every system in the body that it encounters. […] Lead negatively impacts delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and ferrochelatase. […] Lead has been found to trigger programmed cell death (PCD, also called apoptosis) in the central nervous system, including the brain. […] There are no safe levels of lead in the body. In other words, any presence of lead in the body can cause harm.

• #1 Lead Poisoning: Common Symptoms & How You Get Lead Poisoning

  https://www.webmd.com/children/what-is-lead-poisoning

  Lead gets into your system through your bloodstream. Your body then stores it in your organs, tissues, bones, and teeth. Where does it come from? […] Lead-based paint. This is the main cause of lead poisoning. The federal government outlawed lead-based paint for use in new homes in 1978. But it can still be found in older homes. […] Water pipes. Older homes often have lead pipes. Sometimes, brass or copper plumbing fixtures or pipes are welded with lead. Lead can also be found in newer homes if your water service lines (the pipes that run from your home to the source of your water) are old. […] Imported canned goods. Some countries still use lead to seal food cans. […] Soil. Tiny amounts of lead-based paint and leaded gasoline can get in the soil and stay there. […] Toys. You can find lead paint in older toys and toys from other countries that haven’t banned it yet.

• #1 Lead poisoning

  https://www.mymlc.com/health-information/diseases-and-conditions/l/lead-poisoning/?section=Risk%20factors

  Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal. […] Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, but human activity — mining, burning fossil fuels and manufacturing — has caused it to become more widespread. Lead was also once used in paint and gasoline and is still used in batteries, solder, pipes, pottery, roofing materials and some cosmetics. […] Lead-based paints for homes, children’s toys and household furniture have been banned in the United States since 1978. But lead-based paint is still on walls and woodwork in many older homes and apartments. Most lead poisoning in children results from eating chips of deteriorating lead-based paint.

• #1 Lead Poisoning in Children | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0701/p24.html

  Lead has no biologic role in the body, and any detectable level is abnormal. […] The most common sources of lead vary by geographic area. Lead-based paint, lead paint that contains house dust, and lead-contaminated soil are estimated to account for nearly 70% of elevated blood lead levels in U.S. children. […] Children younger than five years are most at risk of lead poisoning. […] Spending time in housing built before 1978 is a risk factor for lead toxicity. […] Living near current or former industrial plants known for lead emissions, such as battery manufacturing or smelting plants, also increases the risk of lead poisoning. […] Iron deficiency is associated with a four- to five-fold increase in the baseline risk of lead toxicity. […] Immigrant or refugee status is also a risk factor. […] Children can be exposed to lead through the work or hobbies of their parents.

• #1 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://patient.info/doctor/lead-poisoning-pro

  In adults, lead poisoning is mostly occupation-related. The occupations mainly involved are the smelting, refining, alloying and casting industry (19.1%), the lead battery industry (18.2%) and the scrap industry (7.4%). […] Children chewing lead-painted items or ingesting fishing weights, bullets or contaminated soil. […] Use of various imported tonics, alternative medication and cosmetics containing lead. […] Associated iron deficiency – increases lead absorption from the GI tract. […] Older houses (lead-based paint or pipes). […] Use of lead-containing folk remedies. […] Age – compared to an adult, a child can absorb twice as much lead from the GI tract. Children aged under 5 years are at increased risk of lead poisoning. […] It has been considered for many years that levels of 10 g/dL have the potential to affect physical and mental development in children. Studies suggest that levels even lower than this can be unsafe.

• #1 Lead poisoning | Definition, Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment | Britannica

  https://www.britannica.com/science/lead-poisoning

  Lead from pipes, paint, gasoline, and consumer products, along with improper recycling of lead-acid batteries, were thought to be the primary sources of lead exposure. […] Individual susceptibility to lead poisoning varies widely and depends not only on the extent of environmental or occupational exposure but also on certain genetic factors. […] Lead poisoning can also occur in animals. It often affects household pets, particularly dogs and birds; farm animals, including cattle, sheep, poultry, and horses; and wild animals, such as rodents, waterfowl, and raptors. […] Similar to humans, animals are predisposed to lead poisoning through exposure to lead-containing products, especially paint chips and improperly discarded oil, batteries, and grease.

• #1 Lead Poisoning in Animals – Toxicology – Merck Veterinary Manual

  https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/lead-poisoning/lead-poisoning-in-animals

  Lead poisoning in mammalian and avian species is characterized by neurologic disturbances, gastrointestinal upset, hematologic abnormalities, immunosuppression, infertility, and renal disease. […] Lead poisoning in animals and humans is a major concern worldwide. […] Young animals, pica, and greater accessibility to lead are key risk factors associated with the toxicosis. […] In cattle, many cases are associated with seeding and harvesting activities when used oil and battery disposal from machinery is handled improperly. […] Other sources of lead include paint, linoleum, grease, lead weights, lead shot, and contaminated foliage growing near smelters or along roadsides. […] Lead poisoning is also encountered in urban environments and during the renovation of old houses that had been painted with lead-based paint, leading to exposure of small animals and children.

• #1 How can we help you?

  https://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/217/lead-poisoning

  Lead is the most common cause of cattle poisoning. Animals die or perform poorly after accidentally ingesting lead. Gradual poisoning may also occur in areas with heavy industrial pollution. […] Even a small amount of lead can kill cattle. Cattle will readily drink crankcase oil, lick grease from machinery and chew on lead plumbing and batteries. Other frequent causes of poisoning include flaking high lead paint, ash from fires in which lead materials were burnt, lead shot from shooting. The lead in these materials settles in the stomachs of cattle, where stomach acids gradually change the lead into poisonous salts. […] Lead poisoning is most common among calves because they are curious feeders, and both milk and milk substitutes increase the amount of lead absorbed by calves. […] Cattle with lead poisoning are not fit for human consumption.

• #1 Lead poisoning – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7941534/

  Lead poisoning is the most common disease of environmental origin in the United States today. Adult lead poisoning results primarily from exposure by inhalation in the workplace. Pediatric lead poisoning results principally from the ingestion of lead from environmental media, including paint chips, dust, soil, drinking water, ceramics, and medications. […] Lead is toxic to many organ systems, among them developing erythrocytes, the kidneys, and the nervous system. Lead-induced toxicity to the central nervous system causes delayed development, diminished intelligence, and altered behavior. In young children, this effect has been demonstrated convincingly to occur at blood lead levels between 10 and 20 micrograms per dl. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that a blood lead level of 10 micrograms per dl or higher be considered evidence of increased lead absorption, and the National Academy of Sciences has concurred in that recommendation.

• #1

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health

  Exposure to lead-contaminated soil and dust resulting from battery recycling and mining has caused outbreaks of mass lead poisoning, including deaths in young children, in some countries. […] Lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. […] Lead exposure also causes anaemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs. […] Lead exposure causes a significant burden of disease. […] The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimates that more than 1.5 million deaths globally were attributed to lead exposure in 2021, primarily due to cardiovascular effects. […] WHO identifies lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern requiring action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age.

• #1

  https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2022-almost-1-million-people-die-every-year-due-to-lead-poisoning–with-more-children-suffering-long-term-health-effects

  Lead is toxic to multiple body systems, including the central nervous system and brain, the reproductive system, kidneys, the cardiovascular system, the blood system and the immune system. […] WHO estimates that 30% of idiopathic intellectual disability, 4.6% of cardiovascular disease and 3% of chronic kidney diseases can be attributed to exposure to lead. […] Important sources of exposure include environmental contamination from the recycling of lead-acid batteries and from poorly controlled lead mining and smelting operations; the use of lead-containing traditional remedies; lead ceramic glazes used in food containers; lead pipes and other lead-containing components in water distribution systems; and lead paint. […] WHO has identified lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern needing action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age.

• #1 Adult Lead Poisoning | Florida Department of Health

  https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/lead-poisoning/adults.html

  Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of biologic processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues, including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys and reproductive and nervous systems. […] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that a blood lead level of 3.5 g/dL or above is a cause for concern; however, lead may impair development and have harmful health effects even at lower levels, and there is no known safe exposure level. […] Lead poisoning can be defined as exposure to high levels of lead typically associated with severe health effects. The amount of lead in the body and the tissue as well as the time course of exposure determines the toxicity and the signs and symptoms exhibited by an individual.

• #1 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://patient.info/doctor/lead-poisoning-pro

  The biological effects of lead are dependent on the level and duration of exposure. Lead inhibits 3 enzymes of haem biosynthesis (amino levulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), coproporphyrin oxidase, and ferrochelatase). This effects erythrocyte formation by impairing haem synthesis and also depresses the serum level of erythropoietin. Lead exposure also affects calcium metabolism. […] Acute lead poisoning is mainly related to occupational inhalation and foreign body ingestion. Chronic lead poisoning may be either environmental or occupational. […] Lead poisoning is a lot less common than it used to be with less use in petrol, paints or cosmetics and generally improved housing. The effect of long-term elevated lead levels on children is of particular concern and can lead to a reduction of IQ and to disruptive behaviour.

• #1 Lead poisoning – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354723

  Your child’s health care provider may recommend that your child be tested for lead levels during routine check-ups. […] A simple blood test can detect lead poisoning. […] There is no safe blood level of lead. However, a level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) is used to indicate a possibly unsafe level for children. […] The first step in treating lead poisoning is to remove the source of the contamination. […] For more-severe cases, your doctor might recommend: Chelation therapy. […] Chelation therapy might be recommended for children with a blood level of 45 mcg/dL or greater and adults with high blood levels of lead or symptoms of lead poisoning. […] Health care providers treat adults with lead levels greater than 45 mcg/dL of blood and children who can’t tolerate the drug used in conventional chelation therapy most commonly with a chemical called calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

• #1 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://patient.info/doctor/lead-poisoning-pro

  The level at which medical intervention is recommended remains at greater than or equal to 45 g/dL. […] Lead exposure is estimated to account for 143,000 deaths per year, with the highest burden in developing regions. […] It is now acknowledged that, due to its cumulative effects, there is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe. […] Evidence suggests that childhood lead exposure may raise the risk of adult neurodegenerative disease, particularly dementia. […] The removal of paint from lead and the replacement of old lead pipes have done much to reduce the burden of lead poisoning, particularly on children. The aim has been to reduce lead levels in children to less than 10 g/dL. […] It is now well established that neurotoxicity can develop below the level of 10 g/dL and the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint has been formed by the World Health Organization and other bodies to minimise this risk.

• #1 Lead Poisoning in Animals – Toxicology – Merck Veterinary Manual

  https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/lead-poisoning/lead-poisoning-in-animals

  The consumption, through grooming, of dust containing lead has been reported in cats. […] To prevent future occurrences of lead poisoning, it is crucial to identify the source. […] The degree of absorption and retention is influenced by dietary factors such as calcium or iron levels. […] Lead has a profound effect on sulfhydryl-containing enzymes, the thiol content of erythrocytes, antioxidant defenses, and tissues rich in mitochondria, which is reflected in the clinical syndrome. […] In addition to the cerebellar hemorrhage and edema associated with capillary damage, lead is also irritating, immunosuppressive, gametotoxic, teratogenic, nephrotoxic, and toxic to the hematopoietic system. […] Lead concentrations in various tissues may be useful to evaluate excessive accumulation and to reflect the level or duration of exposure, severity, and prognosis and the success of treatment.

• #1 Lead poisoning in PA: Causes, risks, and prevention tips • Spotlight PA

  https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2024/11/pennsylvania-lead-poisoning-exposure-rates-paint-housing/

  The main thing you want to do is stop continued exposure because, as research shows, there really is no safe level of lead. […] Lead can outcompete calcium and iron in the body in the cellular processes. So its important to make sure that children have a really good diet, specifically a good intake of iron and calcium. […] This is challenging. At this moment, Id like to see policies that ensure that people know what theyre getting into with a house, especially when so many houses are older; whether its water, paint, or anything else.

• #1 What Causes Criminal Behavior? It Might be Lead Poisoning – The Debrief

  https://thedebrief.org/what-causes-criminal-behavior-it-might-be-lead-poisoning/

  New research has found a strong association between childhood lead exposure and adult criminal behavior. […] An evaluation of 17 previously published studies suggests that exposure to lead in the womb or in childhood is associated with an increased risk of engaging in criminal behavior in adulthood, explains a press release announcing the latest study, but more evidence is needed to strengthen understanding. […] Several studies found links between early childhood exposure to lead and later arrests, including drug-related arrests, they note. […] Notably, the researchers point out that lead exposure in childhood is linked to a number of other poor health outcomes, including cardiac issues, kidney damage, immune system dysfunction, reproductive problems, and impaired neurodevelopmental function.

• #1 Lead Poisoning: Impacts and Sources

  https://www.pureearth.org/global-lead-program/lead-poisoning/

  Lead is one of the World Health Organization’s top 10 chemicals of public health concern. Lead poisoning affects 1 in 3 children worldwide. 90% of these children are in low- and middle-income countries. […] There is no safe level of lead poisoning. According to the 2020 Toxic Truth report from UNICEF and Pure Earth, one third of the world’s children, about 800 million, have blood lead levels exceeding 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL), the World Health Organization’s level requiring action. […] The Global Burden of Disease estimates lead exposure causes 1.6 million deaths per year. A more recent World Bank analysis suggests that lead exposure causes 5.5 million deaths annually. […] Lead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems, including the neurological, hematological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal systems. According to the WHO, there is no known safe level of lead exposure.

• #1 Lead poisoning – Wikipedia

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

  Lead poisoning is preventable. […] This includes individual efforts such as removing lead-containing items from the home, workplace efforts such as improved ventilation and monitoring, and state and national policies that ban lead in products. […] The major treatments are removal of the source of lead and the use of medications that bind lead so it can be eliminated from the body, known as chelation therapy.

• #1 Lead Poisoning in Detroit, Michigan | Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

  https://www.uwindsor.ca/glier/433/lead-poisoning-detroit-michigan

  Primary prevention focuses on identifying and removing lead hazards like lead-based paint and plumbing materials. […] While primary prevention activities can reduce the risk of future lead exposure and poisoning, it is also highly important to detect and respond to cases where lead poisoning has occurred. […] Policy changes and outreach activities are still needed to achieve universal testing, which would improve early detection and intervention in cases of lead poisoning. […] Continued research and monitoring are warranted to track this key indicator of children’s health in order to minimize childhood exposure to lead.

• #1 Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water | US EPA

  https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

  Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 percent to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water. […] The treatment technique regulation for lead (referred to as the Lead and Copper Rule) requires water systems to control the corrosivity of the water. […] If more than 10 percent of tap water samples exceed the lead action level of 15 parts per billion, then water systems are required to take additional actions including: Taking further steps to optimize their corrosion control treatment. […] EPA issued the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 and revised the regulation in 2000, 2007, 2021, and 2024.

• #1

  https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2022-almost-1-million-people-die-every-year-due-to-lead-poisoning–with-more-children-suffering-long-term-health-effects

  Almost 1 million people die every year due to lead poisoning, with more children suffering long-term health effects. […] Each year, an estimated 1 million people die from lead poisoning. […] WHO recommends that the source of lead exposure should be identified and action taken to reduce and terminate exposure for all individuals with a blood lead level of more than 5ug/dl. […] There is no safe level of exposure to lead, which harms health, particularly children’s health. […] UNICEF estimates that 1 in 3 children – up to 800 million globally – have blood lead levels at or above 5 g/dl and immediate global action is needed to address this problem. […] Lead exposure is especially dangerous to children’s developing brains and can result in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), attention span, impaired learning ability, and increased risk of behavioural problems.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: MedlinePlus

  https://medlineplus.gov/leadpoisoning.html

  Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. Lead can be found in all parts of our environment. Much of it comes from human activities such as mining and manufacturing. […] Breathing air, drinking water, eating food, or swallowing or touching dirt that contains lead can cause many health problems. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. In adults, lead can increase blood pressure and cause infertility, nerve disorders, and muscle and joint pain. […] Lead is especially dangerous for children. A child who swallows large amounts of lead may develop anemia, severe stomachache, muscle weakness, and brain damage. Even at low levels, lead can affect a child’s mental and physical growth.

• #2 Lead toxicity: a review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4961898/

  Occupational exposure is a major source for lead poisoning in adults. […] Lead is a common environmental pollutant. Exposure to lead occurs mainly at occupational sites, production of lead-acid batteries or pipes, metal recycling and foundries. […] Lead poisoning causes a variety of symptoms, including abnormal behaviour which varies from person to person, while time of exposure plays an important role. […] Pregnant women who have elevated blood lead levels are at a risk of premature birth or of babies with a low birth weight. […] Children have been repeatedly reported to be at higher risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are in a state of growth and development. […] The brain is the most sensitive organ to lead exposure. […] Lead toxicity disrupts the functions of the digestive system, nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, etc. […] Lead as such has no physiological role in the body and even smaller levels of lead can cause toxicity.

• #2

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health

  Exposure to lead-contaminated soil and dust resulting from battery recycling and mining has caused outbreaks of mass lead poisoning, including deaths in young children, in some countries. […] Lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. […] Lead exposure also causes anaemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs. […] Lead exposure causes a significant burden of disease. […] The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimates that more than 1.5 million deaths globally were attributed to lead exposure in 2021, primarily due to cardiovascular effects. […] WHO identifies lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern requiring action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

  https://www.healthline.com/health/lead-poisoning

  Lead poisoning occurs when lead is ingested. Breathing in dust that contains lead can also cause it. You cannot smell or taste lead, and its not visible to the naked eye. […] In the United States, lead used to be common in house paint and gasoline. These products are not produced with lead any longer. However, lead is still present everywhere. Its especially found in older houses. […] Common sources of lead include: house paint made before 1978, toys and household items painted before 1976, toys made and painted outside the United States, bullets, curtain weights, and fishing sinkers made of lead, pipes and sink faucets, which can contaminate drinking water, soil polluted by car exhaust or chipping house paint, paint sets and art supplies, jewelry, pottery, and lead figures, storage batteries, kohl or kajal eyeliners, some traditional ethnic medicines.

• #2 Lead poisoning – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717

  Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. […] Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, but human activity mining, burning fossil fuels and manufacturing has caused it to become more widespread. […] Lead-based paints for homes, children’s toys and household furniture have been banned in the United States since 1978. […] Lead pipes, brass plumbing fixtures and copper pipes soldered with lead can release lead particles into tap water. […] Lead sometimes can also be found in soil. Lead particles from leaded gasoline or paint settle on soil and can last years. […] Lead is sometimes found in toys and other products produced abroad. […] Lead poisoning has been linked to greta and azarcon, traditional Hispanic medicines, as well as some from India, China and other countries. […] Lead can harm an unborn child.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors & Treatment

  https://www.prepladder.com/neet-pg-study-material/forensic-medicine/lead-poisoning-causes-symptoms-risk-factors-diagnosis-treatment-prevention-and-complications

  Lead poisoning frequently results from lead accumulation in the body over the course of months or years. […] Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are common causes of lead poisoning in children. […] Lead is a naturally occurring metal present in the crust of the earth but various human activities such as mining and burning fossil fuels and minerals have made its existence more common. […] Since 1978, lead-based paints have been prohibited in American homes, children’s products, and furniture. […] Eating chips of decaying lead-based paint is the main cause of lead poisoning in children. […] Lead can leach into drinking water through lead plumbing fittings, copper pipes soldered with lead, and lead pipes. […] Lead can also occasionally be found in soil. Leaded paint or petrol can deposit years’ worth of lead particles in the soil.

• #2 Common Sources of Lead Poisoning | Washington State Department of Health

  https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/lead/common-sources-lead-poisoning

  Lead in drinking water is not a common source of lead poisoning, it usually comes from water distribution lines or household plumbing rather than lakes, wells or streams. […] Parents may unknowingly bring lead home on their hands, clothing, and shoes. Jobs that expose people to lead include: painting, construction or home remodeling, radiator repair, battery or scrap metal recycling, pottery manufacturing, working with guns and ammunition, industries using lead solder, roadwork, and shipbuilding. […] Some families use home remedies to treat illnesses. Some remedies may contain up to 100 percent lead and are very dangerous to children. […] Lead can be used to make ceramic glazes with deep and brilliant color. Imported, old, handmade, or poorly glazed ceramic dishes and pottery are especially at risk for having lead in the glaze. […] Lead has been found in certain candies imported from Mexico. Certain candy ingredients such as tamarind or chili powder may be a source of lead exposure. […] Mini-blinds that are old or imported may contain lead.

• #2 Lead Toxicity: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174752-overview

  Exposure from lead-based paint was significant among children in the past. Although lead was banned from use in residential paint, it continues to be used in nonresidential settings, and as a result of its past use, lead paint can still be found in many older homes. […] Lead from the atmosphere may contaminate bodies of water and equally important, the leaching of lead from water pipes may cause poisoning. […] One of the worst public waterworks failures occurred in Flint, Michigan causing widespread lead poisoning. […] Soil contaminated with lead can be an important source of lead exposure. Such soil contamination may occur surrounding lead smelters and around older homes with deterioration of exterior surfaces. […] Several reports exist of lead poisoning that develops as the result of absorption of lead from retained bullet or shrapnel fragments. […] The most significant lead exposure in adults usually occurs at the workplace, whereas for children, other forms of environmental exposure are more important.

• #2 Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water | US EPA

  https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

  Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 percent to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water. […] The treatment technique regulation for lead (referred to as the Lead and Copper Rule) requires water systems to control the corrosivity of the water. […] If more than 10 percent of tap water samples exceed the lead action level of 15 parts per billion, then water systems are required to take additional actions including: Taking further steps to optimize their corrosion control treatment. […] EPA issued the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 and revised the regulation in 2000, 2007, 2021, and 2024.

• #2 Common Sources of Lead – MN Dept. of Health

  https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/fs/common.html

  Lead is still part of our world today. It is found in the air, soil, dust, and the paint of some homes or buildings built before 1978. Exposure to lead can cause serious health problems. […] Lead dust is currently the main source of lead exposure among children. Household dust can contain lead from cracked, chipped or peeling lead-based paint and tracked contaminated soil. […] Soil can be contaminated with lead from deteriorated exterior paint on buildings or fences. As the result of past use of leaded gasoline, lead can also be found in the soil near major roadways or intersections. […] Some spices and foods are more likely to contain lead. It is not legal to add lead to food that will be sold in the United States, but lead has been found in some foods and spices. […] Lead can enter drinking water as it passes through household plumbing systems. Lead levels in your water are more likely to be high if your home or water system has lead pipes or copper pipes with lead solder.

• #2 Lead poisoning – Wikipedia

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

  Lead poisoning, also known as plumbism and saturnism, is a type of metal poisoning caused by lead in the body. […] Exposure to lead can occur by contaminated air, water, dust, food, or consumer products. […] Lead poisoning poses a significantly increased risk to children and pets as they are far more likely to ingest lead indirectly by chewing on toys or other objects that are coated in lead paint. […] Additionally, children absorb greater quantities of lead from ingested sources than adults. […] Exposure at work is a common cause of lead poisoning in adults with certain occupations at particular risk. […] Lead is a common environmental pollutant. […] Causes of environmental contamination include lead-based paint that is deteriorating, renovation, repair or painting activities, industrial use of lead, and burning of joss paper.

• #2 Lead Poisoning Adults & Lead Poisoning – NYC Health

  https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/lead-poisoning-adults-and-lead-poisoning.page

  Lead exposure can cause high blood pressure and brain, kidney and reproductive health issues in adults. […] The most commonly identified source of lead poisoning in non-pregnant adults is occupational exposure to lead in the construction industry. […] Adults can also be exposed to lead through the use of lead-contaminated products, such as certain imported health remedies, spices, foods, pottery and cosmetics. […] Workers are exposed by breathing lead dust or lead fumes during construction activities that disturb old lead-based paint, such as renovations, repairs, demolition, and clean-up. […] Indoor firing ranges are a known source of lead exposure. […] Some supplements or remedies, imported spices and cosmetics may contain high levels of lead, which can be dangerous to your health. […] Pregnant women and their fetuses may also be at risk for lead poisoning.

• #2 Common Sources of Lead Poisoning | Washington State Department of Health

  https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/lead/common-sources-lead-poisoning

  Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust are the most common sources of lead poisoning. Paint containing lead was not banned in the United States until 1978. Homes built before 1978 have a good chance of having lead-based paint, which can chip, peel or flake. […] Children may be exposed to lead through contaminated soil when they play outside. Lead in dirt clings to fingers, toys, and other objects children normally put in their mouths. Lead can get in soil from: deteriorating lead-based paint around buildings and old playground equipment, leaded gasoline near busy roads, leaks from underground storage tanks, lead-acid battery recycling facilities, and smoke and dust from industries, such as lead ore mining and milling, smelting, municipal solid waste incinerators. […] Some toys and toy jewelry contain levels of lead that may have a serious health risk to children.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, Testing & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11312-lead-poisoning

  Lead poisoning is caused by exposure to high levels of lead. […] Lead poisoning is usually caused by eating or drinking (ingesting) lead, but touching or breathing in the toxic metal can also cause it. […] Lead can also contaminate: Herbal remedies or medicines, Toys and candies from foreign countries, Stained glass, Leaded crystal glassware, Glazed ceramic ware, including plates, pitchers and cups. […] The United States banned lead-based paint in 1978. […] Children mainly get lead poisoning by swallowing and/or absorbing lead-based paint used in houses that were built before 1978. […] Adults can get lead poisoning by being exposed to lead through eating food and drinking water contaminated with lead. […] Lead poisoning in adults can lead to serious health effects.

• #2 Unusual Sources of Lead Poisoning | Poison Control

  https://www.poison.org/articles/unusual-sources-of-lead-poisoning

  Lead has been found in folk remedies for arthritis, infertility, cramps, and colic. […] Contaminated medicines have been imported from many countries. […] Licking bullets, swallowing lead pellets or shot, or breathing fumes from melted lead for fishing weights have caused lead poisoning. […] Children have had lead poisoning when acidic foods were stored or served on imported ceramic dishware and pitchers. […] Lead poisoning has resulted from contaminated plastic mini-blinds. […] Whatever the source, lead poisoning is dangerous for children. […] Lead damages the nervous system, especially in young children. […] Lead poisoning is diagnosed with a blood test.

• #2 Lead poisoning: Symptoms, in children, in adults, causes

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306601

  Lead poisoning happens when lead builds up in the body over time. […] The most common sources are lead-based paint and water pipes in older buildings, lead-based dust, and contaminated water, air, or soil. […] Lead is a natural element found in the earths crust. Human activity such as mining, burning fossil fuels, and manufacturing has made it more widespread and accessible. […] The majority of lead poisoning cases in children are due to eating old lead-based paint chips. […] Brass plumbing fixtures and pipes made or soldered using lead and can release lead into tap water. […] Lead that has arrived in the soil from lead-based gasoline or paint can survive for many years. […] Lead damages every system in the body that it encounters. […] Lead negatively impacts delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and ferrochelatase. […] Lead has been found to trigger programmed cell death (PCD, also called apoptosis) in the central nervous system, including the brain. […] There are no safe levels of lead in the body. In other words, any presence of lead in the body can cause harm.

• #2 Lead and Children: No Amount of Lead is Safe | Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/lead-poison-and-children-no-amount-lead-safe

  Lead poisoning that requires medical intervention, blood levels above 45mcg/dL, can cause sleepiness, vomiting, seizures, and encephalopathy, a disease that affects brain structure or function. […] Lead is a heavy metal that competes with other elements in the body, like iron, and disrupts normal body functions. […] Lead causes anemia because it reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. […] Lead causes cognitive delays because it interferes with enzymes, mitochondrial reactions, and the nervous system. […] The purpose of lead screening is to identify children with high lead levels so that actions can be taken to reduce lead exposure and prevent cognitive and behavioral problems. […] Children with lead levels above 3.5 mcg/dL are followed every three months and a thorough investigation of potential sources of exposure is conducted. […] Levels above 45 mcg/dL are treated with chelation therapy, medication that binds to lead in the bloodstream and excretes it in the urine.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: A Persistent health Hazard-General and oral aspects – Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal

  https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol10no1/lead-poisoning-a-persistent-health-hazard-general-and-oral-aspects/

  Lead is a heavy metal that is both poisonous and a ubiquitous environmental toxicant. […] The various sources of exposure to lead are summarised in Table 1. […] Lead mainly enters the bloodstream via the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and less commonly through the skin and mucosa. […] Lead exposure has been found to increase risk of numerous conditions that may have adverse effects on nervous system function, including hypertension, renal insufficiency, thyroid metabolism, vitamin D deficiency, and premature birth. […] Lead has a direct effect on the hematopoietic system through two major mechanisms: a) downregulating the salient enzymes of heme synthesis, thus, limiting the synthesis of haemoglobin. b) Making the cell membranes more fragile and hence, reducing the circulating RBCs life span.

• #2 Lead Poisoning (for Parents) | Nemours KidsHealth

  https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/lead-poisoning.html

  Lead poisoning happens when too much lead gets into the body. […] The most common way that kids get lead poisoning is from lead-based paint in older homes. […] Kids can also have contact with lead if they drink water that flows through old lead pipes or lead solder. […] Lead can pass from a mother to her unborn baby. […] Lead is toxic to everyone, but children younger than 6 years old are at greatest risk for problems from it. […] Kids are also at risk if they live in homes built before 1978 or come from a foreign country that doesn’t regulate the use of lead.

• #2 About Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/about/index.html

  Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can cause negative health effects. People are exposed to lead by eating lead paint chips, ingesting contaminated food or water, and/or by breathing in lead dust. […] Children younger than 6 years are more likely to be exposed due to their hand-to-mouth behavior. […] No safe blood lead level (BLL) in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood are associated with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues. The effects of lead poisoning can be permanent and disabling. […] Some children are at a greater risk for lead exposure from paint, water, soil, some imported items and industrial sources. […] Children can be exposed to lead where they live, learn, and play. Sources of lead exposure can include the following: Chipping or peeling paint in homes or buildings built before 1978, Water from lead pipes, Soil near airports, highways, or factories, Some imported candies and traditional medicines, Some imported toys and jewelry, Certain jobs and hobbies.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://patient.info/doctor/lead-poisoning-pro

  In adults, lead poisoning is mostly occupation-related. The occupations mainly involved are the smelting, refining, alloying and casting industry (19.1%), the lead battery industry (18.2%) and the scrap industry (7.4%). […] Children chewing lead-painted items or ingesting fishing weights, bullets or contaminated soil. […] Use of various imported tonics, alternative medication and cosmetics containing lead. […] Associated iron deficiency – increases lead absorption from the GI tract. […] Older houses (lead-based paint or pipes). […] Use of lead-containing folk remedies. […] Age – compared to an adult, a child can absorb twice as much lead from the GI tract. Children aged under 5 years are at increased risk of lead poisoning. […] It has been considered for many years that levels of 10 g/dL have the potential to affect physical and mental development in children. Studies suggest that levels even lower than this can be unsafe.

• #2 Lead Poisoning in Detroit, Michigan | Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

  https://www.uwindsor.ca/glier/433/lead-poisoning-detroit-michigan

  According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health consequences of lead poisoning can also have physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, sleeping or eating disorders, attention deficit disorders, and weakness or clumsiness. […] The persistently high number of children found to have elevated BLL and the recent spike in tested children with lead poisoning signal that lead hazards still pose a significant danger to Detroit’s children. […] Several sources of lead have contributed to contamination and childhood lead poisoning in the City of Detroit. […] Lead was used in paint until 1978 because it improved durability and adhesive qualities. […] Although use of lead-based paint was banned in 1978, it is the primary source of lead poisoning in children today because it is still present in older cities like Detroit where 91.8% of all housing stock was built prior to 1978.

• #2 Lead Poisoning in Children | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0701/p24.html

  Lead has no biologic role in the body, and any detectable level is abnormal. […] The most common sources of lead vary by geographic area. Lead-based paint, lead paint that contains house dust, and lead-contaminated soil are estimated to account for nearly 70% of elevated blood lead levels in U.S. children. […] Children younger than five years are most at risk of lead poisoning. […] Spending time in housing built before 1978 is a risk factor for lead toxicity. […] Living near current or former industrial plants known for lead emissions, such as battery manufacturing or smelting plants, also increases the risk of lead poisoning. […] Iron deficiency is associated with a four- to five-fold increase in the baseline risk of lead toxicity. […] Immigrant or refugee status is also a risk factor. […] Children can be exposed to lead through the work or hobbies of their parents.

• #2 Lead Poisoning In Children – Symptoms | familydoctor.org

  https://familydoctor.org/lead-poisoning-in-children/

  Children who live at or below the poverty line are more likely to be exposed to lead paint. This population may be more likely to live in older housing. Many older houses and apartment buildings have lead-based paint on their walls. Also, children of some racial and ethnic groups are more likely to be exposed. […] Children can be exposed to lead in other ways, too. It can be found in food or juice stored in foreign-made cans or in improperly fired ceramic containers.

• #2 Learn about Lead | US EPA

  https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead

  Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead. […] A pregnant womans exposure to lead from these sources is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby. […] The most important step parents, doctors, and others can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs. […] Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from the mother’s bones along with calcium and can pass from the mother exposing the fetus or the breastfeeding infant to lead. […] Lead is also harmful to other adults. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension; decreased kidney function; and reproductive problems (in both men and women).

• #2

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health

  Exposure to lead can affect multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of child-bearing age. […] Lead exposure was attributed to more than 1.5 million deaths globally in 2021, primarily due to cardiovascular effects. […] There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects. […] The harmful impacts on health from lead exposure are entirely preventable. […] Important sources of environmental contamination include mining, smelting, manufacturing and recycling activities, and lead use in a range of products. […] Lead exposure during pregnancy can cause reduced fetal growth and preterm birth. […] Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning as they may absorb up to 45 times as much lead as adults from an ingested dose.

• #2 Lead Poisoning in Animals – Toxicology – Merck Veterinary Manual

  https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/lead-poisoning/lead-poisoning-in-animals

  Lead poisoning in mammalian and avian species is characterized by neurologic disturbances, gastrointestinal upset, hematologic abnormalities, immunosuppression, infertility, and renal disease. […] Lead poisoning in animals and humans is a major concern worldwide. […] Young animals, pica, and greater accessibility to lead are key risk factors associated with the toxicosis. […] In cattle, many cases are associated with seeding and harvesting activities when used oil and battery disposal from machinery is handled improperly. […] Other sources of lead include paint, linoleum, grease, lead weights, lead shot, and contaminated foliage growing near smelters or along roadsides. […] Lead poisoning is also encountered in urban environments and during the renovation of old houses that had been painted with lead-based paint, leading to exposure of small animals and children.

• #2 Lead Poisoning in Animals – Toxicology – Merck Veterinary Manual

  https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/lead-poisoning/lead-poisoning-in-animals

  The consumption, through grooming, of dust containing lead has been reported in cats. […] To prevent future occurrences of lead poisoning, it is crucial to identify the source. […] The degree of absorption and retention is influenced by dietary factors such as calcium or iron levels. […] Lead has a profound effect on sulfhydryl-containing enzymes, the thiol content of erythrocytes, antioxidant defenses, and tissues rich in mitochondria, which is reflected in the clinical syndrome. […] In addition to the cerebellar hemorrhage and edema associated with capillary damage, lead is also irritating, immunosuppressive, gametotoxic, teratogenic, nephrotoxic, and toxic to the hematopoietic system. […] Lead concentrations in various tissues may be useful to evaluate excessive accumulation and to reflect the level or duration of exposure, severity, and prognosis and the success of treatment.

• #2 Causes and signs of lead poisoning and contamination in production animals | Business Queensland

  https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/animal/health/contamination/lead/cause

  Animals may find material contaminated with lead in silage, rubbish dumps and around farm buildings and machinery. Lead can be present in: discarded sump oil and oil filters, lead batteries (the most common cause of cases), flaking lead-based paint or old paint tins, lead shot and fishing sinkers, linoleum, grease, putty, metallic lead, other sources. […] The easiest and most effective way to protect your production animals from lead poisoning and contamination is to dispose of lead safely. […] If your animal is showing signs of lead poisoning you should: provide the animal with food, water and shade, keep the animal separate from other animals, try to identify and remove the hazardous material from your property, collect a sample of the hazardous material for analysis, contact your veterinarian.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: Impacts and Sources

  https://www.pureearth.org/global-lead-program/lead-poisoning/

  Lead is one of the World Health Organization’s top 10 chemicals of public health concern. Lead poisoning affects 1 in 3 children worldwide. 90% of these children are in low- and middle-income countries. […] There is no safe level of lead poisoning. According to the 2020 Toxic Truth report from UNICEF and Pure Earth, one third of the world’s children, about 800 million, have blood lead levels exceeding 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL), the World Health Organization’s level requiring action. […] The Global Burden of Disease estimates lead exposure causes 1.6 million deaths per year. A more recent World Bank analysis suggests that lead exposure causes 5.5 million deaths annually. […] Lead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems, including the neurological, hematological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal systems. According to the WHO, there is no known safe level of lead exposure.

• #2 Adult Lead Poisoning | Florida Department of Health

  https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/lead-poisoning/adults.html

  In regards to the time of exposure, lead poisoning can be classified into acute lead poisoning (from intense exposure of short duration) or chronic lead poisoning (from repeat low-level exposure over a prolonged time period). […] The main method of treating lead poisoning is to remove the source of lead and chelation therapy for people with significantly high blood levels or who have symptoms of poisoning. Chelation therapy is the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body.

• #2 Lead poisoning – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354723

  Your child’s health care provider may recommend that your child be tested for lead levels during routine check-ups. […] A simple blood test can detect lead poisoning. […] There is no safe blood level of lead. However, a level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) is used to indicate a possibly unsafe level for children. […] The first step in treating lead poisoning is to remove the source of the contamination. […] For more-severe cases, your doctor might recommend: Chelation therapy. […] Chelation therapy might be recommended for children with a blood level of 45 mcg/dL or greater and adults with high blood levels of lead or symptoms of lead poisoning. […] Health care providers treat adults with lead levels greater than 45 mcg/dL of blood and children who can’t tolerate the drug used in conventional chelation therapy most commonly with a chemical called calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

• #2 Lead and Children: No Amount of Lead is Safe | Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/lead-poison-and-children-no-amount-lead-safe

  Lead poisoning can occur at very low levels of lead exposure. […] Lead poisoning is caused by eating, drinking, touching, or breathing in lead. […] Research shows no lead exposure is safe for children and lead accumulates in the bloodstream more easily in children’s bodies. […] Compared to adults, children absorb a higher percentage of lead through their GI tract and are more likely to be iron-deficient, which also increases the absorption rate of lead. […] An elevated lead level is defined as anything greater than 3.5 mcg/dL on a blood sample. […] Over the last 20 years this level has been lowered from 10 mcg/dL to 5 mcg/dL, and now to 3.5 mcg/dL as we have uncovered the association between elevated lead levels in children and damage to brain development. […] This brain damage manifests in lower IQ scores and learning and behavioral problems.

• #2 Lead poisoning in PA: Causes, risks, and prevention tips • Spotlight PA

  https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2024/11/pennsylvania-lead-poisoning-exposure-rates-paint-housing/

  The main thing you want to do is stop continued exposure because, as research shows, there really is no safe level of lead. […] Lead can outcompete calcium and iron in the body in the cellular processes. So its important to make sure that children have a really good diet, specifically a good intake of iron and calcium. […] This is challenging. At this moment, Id like to see policies that ensure that people know what theyre getting into with a house, especially when so many houses are older; whether its water, paint, or anything else.

• #2 Lead toxicity: a review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4961898/

  Lead toxicity is an important environmental disease and its effects on the human body are devastating. There is almost no function in the human body which is not affected by lead toxicity. […] Lead is a highly poisonous metal affecting almost every organ in the body. Of all the organs, the nervous system is the mostly affected target in lead toxicity, both in children and adults. […] Long-time exposure to lead has been reported to cause anaemia, along with an increase in blood pressure, and that mainly in old and middle aged people. Severe damage to the brain and kidneys, both in adults and children, were found to be linked to exposure to heavy lead levels resulting in death. […] Poisoning due to lead occurs mainly by ingestion of food or water contaminated with lead. However accidental ingestion of contaminated soil, dust or lead based paint may also result in poisoning.

• #2 What Causes Criminal Behavior? It Might be Lead Poisoning – The Debrief

  https://thedebrief.org/what-causes-criminal-behavior-it-might-be-lead-poisoning/

  There is no safe level of lead exposure for children, and countries should extend all efforts to protect children and pregnant persons from lead containments, said Talayero Schettino. […] While more individual-level data needs to be collected to verify the connection of the effects of lead exposure during childhood and criminal behavior in adulthood, the evidence we found points in the direction of lead exposure being associated with biological effects in children that have long-term behavioral consequences, said Talayero Schettino.

• #2 Lead Poisoning: Impacts and Sources

  https://www.pureearth.org/global-lead-program/lead-poisoning/

  An estimated 1.6 million to 5.5 million deaths are caused by lead exposure each year. […] In adults, lead exposure causes a significant burden of disease as well. In 2019, 5.5 million adults died from cardiovascular disease from lead exposure. […] Exposure to lead before and during pregnancy can also be extremely harmful. […] The sources of lead exposure that contribute to high rates of lead poisoning in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can vary from country to country and can differ from exposure sources common in high-income countries. […] Lead is added to paint to increase drying capacity and durability, as it resists moisture and helps prevent corrosion. […] Lead in drinking water, most commonly from decaying or corroding pipes and fixtures or from solder that connects pipes, continues to be a risk.

• #2 Lead Poisoning in Detroit, Michigan | Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

  https://www.uwindsor.ca/glier/433/lead-poisoning-detroit-michigan

  Given that lead-based paint was used outdoors as well as indoors, lead dust can also wash off to the soil surrounding a home and poison a child during play. […] Other important sources of lead contamination in the City of Detroit are former sites of lead smelters, foundries, and alloy makers in certain residential areas. […] Although exposure to lead from ceramics and the past use of leaded gasoline are not currently considered major sources of lead poisoning in Detroit, they are factors that must be considered. […] Water that runs through pipes that contain lead is another potential source of lead exposure in homes where the old lead plumbing materials have not been replaced. […] Given the various sources of lead which contribute greatly to the number of children with lead poisoning, efforts are being made by health, government, non-profit, and community development organizations to prevent and respond to lead poisoning in the City of Detroit.

• #2 Lead Poisoning in Detroit, Michigan | Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

  https://www.uwindsor.ca/glier/433/lead-poisoning-detroit-michigan

  Primary prevention focuses on identifying and removing lead hazards like lead-based paint and plumbing materials. […] While primary prevention activities can reduce the risk of future lead exposure and poisoning, it is also highly important to detect and respond to cases where lead poisoning has occurred. […] Policy changes and outreach activities are still needed to achieve universal testing, which would improve early detection and intervention in cases of lead poisoning. […] Continued research and monitoring are warranted to track this key indicator of children’s health in order to minimize childhood exposure to lead.

• #2

  https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2022-almost-1-million-people-die-every-year-due-to-lead-poisoning–with-more-children-suffering-long-term-health-effects

  Lead is toxic to multiple body systems, including the central nervous system and brain, the reproductive system, kidneys, the cardiovascular system, the blood system and the immune system. […] WHO estimates that 30% of idiopathic intellectual disability, 4.6% of cardiovascular disease and 3% of chronic kidney diseases can be attributed to exposure to lead. […] Important sources of exposure include environmental contamination from the recycling of lead-acid batteries and from poorly controlled lead mining and smelting operations; the use of lead-containing traditional remedies; lead ceramic glazes used in food containers; lead pipes and other lead-containing components in water distribution systems; and lead paint. […] WHO has identified lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern needing action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age.

• #3 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-Causes-Lead-Poisoning.aspx

  Lead is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in the Earths crust, but its use in activities such as mining, smelting and the burning of fossil fuels has contaminated the environment, leading to human exposure and public health problems in various parts of the world. […] Lead poisoning refers to when lead accumulates in the body and causes severe health problems. […] Even very small amounts can lead to problems and at very high amounts, it can cause death. […] Lead exposure is determined by measuring the amount of lead in the blood and no known level of lead exposure is regarded as safe. […] Children under 6 years of age are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead poisoning, which causes profound and permanent problems, particularly ones that affect brain development and the nervous system.

• #3 Lead poisoning – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7941534/

  Lead poisoning is the most common disease of environmental origin in the United States today. Adult lead poisoning results primarily from exposure by inhalation in the workplace. Pediatric lead poisoning results principally from the ingestion of lead from environmental media, including paint chips, dust, soil, drinking water, ceramics, and medications. […] Lead is toxic to many organ systems, among them developing erythrocytes, the kidneys, and the nervous system. Lead-induced toxicity to the central nervous system causes delayed development, diminished intelligence, and altered behavior. In young children, this effect has been demonstrated convincingly to occur at blood lead levels between 10 and 20 micrograms per dl. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that a blood lead level of 10 micrograms per dl or higher be considered evidence of increased lead absorption, and the National Academy of Sciences has concurred in that recommendation.

• #3

  https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2022-almost-1-million-people-die-every-year-due-to-lead-poisoning–with-more-children-suffering-long-term-health-effects

  Lead is toxic to multiple body systems, including the central nervous system and brain, the reproductive system, kidneys, the cardiovascular system, the blood system and the immune system. […] WHO estimates that 30% of idiopathic intellectual disability, 4.6% of cardiovascular disease and 3% of chronic kidney diseases can be attributed to exposure to lead. […] Important sources of exposure include environmental contamination from the recycling of lead-acid batteries and from poorly controlled lead mining and smelting operations; the use of lead-containing traditional remedies; lead ceramic glazes used in food containers; lead pipes and other lead-containing components in water distribution systems; and lead paint. […] WHO has identified lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern needing action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age.

• #3 Lead Poisoning | Cedars-Sinai

  https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/l/lead-poisoning.html

  Lead poisoning occurs when a child or adult gets lead in their body. Lead gets into the body by eating it or breathing it. […] Eating or breathing in dust from deteriorating lead-based paint is the most common cause of lead poisoning among children. […] Another source of lead poisoning is tap water in homes that have lead pipes. It’s also linked to paint and dust chips from old toys, furniture, and certain hobby materials. […] There is no safe blood lead level in children. Even low blood lead levels have been shown to lower a child’s IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic performance.

• #3 Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water | US EPA

  https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

  Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. […] The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead services lines, these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. […] The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to determine the level of contaminants in drinking water at which no adverse health effects are likely to occur with an adequate margin of safety. […] EPA has set the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels.

• #3 Common Sources of Lead – MN Dept. of Health

  https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/fs/common.html

  Lead is still part of our world today. It is found in the air, soil, dust, and the paint of some homes or buildings built before 1978. Exposure to lead can cause serious health problems. […] Lead dust is currently the main source of lead exposure among children. Household dust can contain lead from cracked, chipped or peeling lead-based paint and tracked contaminated soil. […] Soil can be contaminated with lead from deteriorated exterior paint on buildings or fences. As the result of past use of leaded gasoline, lead can also be found in the soil near major roadways or intersections. […] Some spices and foods are more likely to contain lead. It is not legal to add lead to food that will be sold in the United States, but lead has been found in some foods and spices. […] Lead can enter drinking water as it passes through household plumbing systems. Lead levels in your water are more likely to be high if your home or water system has lead pipes or copper pipes with lead solder.

• #3 Sources of Lead

  https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/sources.htm

  Lead can be found in many products and locations. Some you might never have thought of, including some imported candies, toys, and traditional medicines. The most common cause of lead poisoning is dust and chips from old paint. However, some non-paint sources, though less common, can cause severe cases of lead poisoning. […] Lead dust is the most common way that people are exposed to lead. Inside the home, most lead dust comes from chipping and flaking paint or when paint is scraped, sanded, or disturbed during home remodeling. […] Starting in 1973, the federal government started a gradual phase-down of lead content in gasoline, and by 1996, banned the sale completely. However, lead from car exhausts mixed with soil near roads and is still there today. […] Lead seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and household or building plumbing.

• #3 Common Sources of Lead – MN Dept. of Health

  https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/fs/common.html

  Some traditional or cultural medicine and cosmetics contain lead and should not be used. […] Individuals who have recently moved from or spent time in another country may have a greater risk for lead exposure, depending on the environmental regulations and sources of exposure in that country. […] Adults can be exposed to lead through certain jobs or hobbies where lead is used, such as construction or lead smelting; radiator or auto repair shops; recycling batteries; refinishing antiques; working in shooting ranges; and making ammunition or fishing sinkers. […] Pica is when an adult or child chews or ingests non-food items such as soil, clay, or pieces of housing material such as paint chips, drywall, or baseboards. […] There are other items containing lead that Children may put in their mouths.

• #3 Unusual Sources of Lead Poisoning | Poison Control

  https://www.poison.org/articles/unusual-sources-of-lead-poisoning

  At one time, the usual sources of lead poisoning were lead paint and leaded gasoline. Now, more unusual sources of lead poisoning include jewelry, cosmetics, imported herbal and traditional medicines, and even hobby supplies. […] Unusual sources of lead can cause effects ranging from mild abdominal symptoms to seizures, coma, and death. […] In recent years, lead poisoning in the U.S. has been caused by a variety of items. […] Children’s jewelry containing lead has caused lead poisoning and even death. Some imported cosmetics have been contaminated with lead; examples include kohl, used as eye liner, and sindoor, a red powder used on the scalp by married Hindi women. […] For example, azarcon and greta are used to treat empacho (stomach symptoms); both contain a substantial amount of lead. Many herbal medicines from India (64% in one study) contain lead.

• #3 Lead Toxicity: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174752-overview

  Exposure from lead-based paint was significant among children in the past. Although lead was banned from use in residential paint, it continues to be used in nonresidential settings, and as a result of its past use, lead paint can still be found in many older homes. […] Lead from the atmosphere may contaminate bodies of water and equally important, the leaching of lead from water pipes may cause poisoning. […] One of the worst public waterworks failures occurred in Flint, Michigan causing widespread lead poisoning. […] Soil contaminated with lead can be an important source of lead exposure. Such soil contamination may occur surrounding lead smelters and around older homes with deterioration of exterior surfaces. […] Several reports exist of lead poisoning that develops as the result of absorption of lead from retained bullet or shrapnel fragments. […] The most significant lead exposure in adults usually occurs at the workplace, whereas for children, other forms of environmental exposure are more important.

• #3 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment | UPMC

  https://share.upmc.com/2016/08/lead-poisoning-symptoms-treatment/

  Lead poisoning is a debilitating, potentially deadly condition that affects thousands of Americans each year. And children are especially at risk. […] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 140,000 children were tested for lead poisoning in Pennsylvania in 2014. Of these, 1,800 tested positive for significant levels of lead exposure. […] Exposure to lead can happen through physical contact, ingestion, or inhalation. […] People who live in homes built prior to 1978 are at an increased risk of lead exposure. Houses built prior to this year could contain lead paint, which then contaminates dust particles. About 24 million homes in the United State have an unsafe level of lead from decades-old deteriorating paint. […] The most common sources of lead exposure: Occupational exposure such as glass-making, being around firearms, metal workers, etc. […] Drinking water that flows through lead pipes […] Exposure to industrial pollution […] Eating food thats been in contact with ceramics that contain lead […] Contact with jewelry or toys made of lead or have lead-based paint.

• #3 Lead Poisoning: A Persistent health Hazard-General and oral aspects – Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal

  https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol10no1/lead-poisoning-a-persistent-health-hazard-general-and-oral-aspects/

  Lead is a heavy metal that is both poisonous and a ubiquitous environmental toxicant. […] The various sources of exposure to lead are summarised in Table 1. […] Lead mainly enters the bloodstream via the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and less commonly through the skin and mucosa. […] Lead exposure has been found to increase risk of numerous conditions that may have adverse effects on nervous system function, including hypertension, renal insufficiency, thyroid metabolism, vitamin D deficiency, and premature birth. […] Lead has a direct effect on the hematopoietic system through two major mechanisms: a) downregulating the salient enzymes of heme synthesis, thus, limiting the synthesis of haemoglobin. b) Making the cell membranes more fragile and hence, reducing the circulating RBCs life span.

• #3 Lead Poisoning in Children | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0701/p24.html

  Lead has no biologic role in the body, and any detectable level is abnormal. […] The most common sources of lead vary by geographic area. Lead-based paint, lead paint that contains house dust, and lead-contaminated soil are estimated to account for nearly 70% of elevated blood lead levels in U.S. children. […] Children younger than five years are most at risk of lead poisoning. […] Spending time in housing built before 1978 is a risk factor for lead toxicity. […] Living near current or former industrial plants known for lead emissions, such as battery manufacturing or smelting plants, also increases the risk of lead poisoning. […] Iron deficiency is associated with a four- to five-fold increase in the baseline risk of lead toxicity. […] Immigrant or refugee status is also a risk factor. […] Children can be exposed to lead through the work or hobbies of their parents.

• #3 Lead Poisoning in Detroit, Michigan | Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

  https://www.uwindsor.ca/glier/433/lead-poisoning-detroit-michigan

  Given that lead-based paint was used outdoors as well as indoors, lead dust can also wash off to the soil surrounding a home and poison a child during play. […] Other important sources of lead contamination in the City of Detroit are former sites of lead smelters, foundries, and alloy makers in certain residential areas. […] Although exposure to lead from ceramics and the past use of leaded gasoline are not currently considered major sources of lead poisoning in Detroit, they are factors that must be considered. […] Water that runs through pipes that contain lead is another potential source of lead exposure in homes where the old lead plumbing materials have not been replaced. […] Given the various sources of lead which contribute greatly to the number of children with lead poisoning, efforts are being made by health, government, non-profit, and community development organizations to prevent and respond to lead poisoning in the City of Detroit.

• #3 Learn about Lead | US EPA

  https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead

  Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead. […] A pregnant womans exposure to lead from these sources is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby. […] The most important step parents, doctors, and others can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs. […] Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from the mother’s bones along with calcium and can pass from the mother exposing the fetus or the breastfeeding infant to lead. […] Lead is also harmful to other adults. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension; decreased kidney function; and reproductive problems (in both men and women).

• #3 Lead Toxicosis | Cornell Wildlife Health Lab

  https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/disease/lead-toxicosis

  Lead has no biological function and is toxic to all animals. […] All animals are susceptible to lead toxicosis, although the effects are most often seen in birds, especially loons and swans, condors, vultures, and eagles. […] The most common route of exposure to lead for birds is through ingestion of spent lead ammunition fragments and fishing tackle. […] Lead toxicosis can be treated with lead chelating agents and supportive care, although many birds are too severely affected for treatment to be successful. […] However, lead continues to be used in ammunition and fishing tackle leading to lead toxicosis in wildlife, especially bird species. […] The incidence of lead toxicosis in bird species is related to their diet and digestive anatomy and physiology. […] Lead can be taken up by animals through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption.

• #3

  https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2022-almost-1-million-people-die-every-year-due-to-lead-poisoning–with-more-children-suffering-long-term-health-effects

  Almost 1 million people die every year due to lead poisoning, with more children suffering long-term health effects. […] Each year, an estimated 1 million people die from lead poisoning. […] WHO recommends that the source of lead exposure should be identified and action taken to reduce and terminate exposure for all individuals with a blood lead level of more than 5ug/dl. […] There is no safe level of exposure to lead, which harms health, particularly children’s health. […] UNICEF estimates that 1 in 3 children – up to 800 million globally – have blood lead levels at or above 5 g/dl and immediate global action is needed to address this problem. […] Lead exposure is especially dangerous to children’s developing brains and can result in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), attention span, impaired learning ability, and increased risk of behavioural problems.

• #3 Lead and Children: No Amount of Lead is Safe | Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/lead-poison-and-children-no-amount-lead-safe

  Lead poisoning can occur at very low levels of lead exposure. […] Lead poisoning is caused by eating, drinking, touching, or breathing in lead. […] Research shows no lead exposure is safe for children and lead accumulates in the bloodstream more easily in children’s bodies. […] Compared to adults, children absorb a higher percentage of lead through their GI tract and are more likely to be iron-deficient, which also increases the absorption rate of lead. […] An elevated lead level is defined as anything greater than 3.5 mcg/dL on a blood sample. […] Over the last 20 years this level has been lowered from 10 mcg/dL to 5 mcg/dL, and now to 3.5 mcg/dL as we have uncovered the association between elevated lead levels in children and damage to brain development. […] This brain damage manifests in lower IQ scores and learning and behavioral problems.

• #3 Lead and Children: No Amount of Lead is Safe | Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/lead-poison-and-children-no-amount-lead-safe

  Lead poisoning that requires medical intervention, blood levels above 45mcg/dL, can cause sleepiness, vomiting, seizures, and encephalopathy, a disease that affects brain structure or function. […] Lead is a heavy metal that competes with other elements in the body, like iron, and disrupts normal body functions. […] Lead causes anemia because it reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. […] Lead causes cognitive delays because it interferes with enzymes, mitochondrial reactions, and the nervous system. […] The purpose of lead screening is to identify children with high lead levels so that actions can be taken to reduce lead exposure and prevent cognitive and behavioral problems. […] Children with lead levels above 3.5 mcg/dL are followed every three months and a thorough investigation of potential sources of exposure is conducted. […] Levels above 45 mcg/dL are treated with chelation therapy, medication that binds to lead in the bloodstream and excretes it in the urine.

• #3 Lead poisoning in PA: Causes, risks, and prevention tips • Spotlight PA

  https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2024/11/pennsylvania-lead-poisoning-exposure-rates-paint-housing/

  The main thing you want to do is stop continued exposure because, as research shows, there really is no safe level of lead. […] Lead can outcompete calcium and iron in the body in the cellular processes. So its important to make sure that children have a really good diet, specifically a good intake of iron and calcium. […] This is challenging. At this moment, Id like to see policies that ensure that people know what theyre getting into with a house, especially when so many houses are older; whether its water, paint, or anything else.

• #3 Lead poisoning—an aetiology not to be missed | HKMJ

  https://www.hkmj.org/abstracts/v24n6/639.htm

  Lead is ubiquitous in the environment. Workers in industries such as plumbing, mining, and manufacturing of metals, plastics, or batteries are at risk of exposure through inhalation of lead-containing dust or fumes. Lead has also been used in many consumer products, such as gasoline, paints, cosmetics, crayons, ceramic glaze, cookware, and toys. […] In Hong Kong, historical reports of lead poisoning include an outbreak among Gurkha soldiers exposed to chili powder contaminated with lead chromate, fisherman and their families who ingested excessive lead while repairing nets contaminated by lead weights, consumers of traditional Chinese medicine or processed herbs contaminated by lead grinders and pans used in the pulverisation process. […] According to a large case series of childhood lead poisoning in China published in 2017, industrial lead pollution (43.1%) and folk medicines (41.4%) account for the main source of lead exposure.

• #3 Lead Poisoning in Detroit, Michigan | Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

  https://www.uwindsor.ca/glier/433/lead-poisoning-detroit-michigan

  Primary prevention focuses on identifying and removing lead hazards like lead-based paint and plumbing materials. […] While primary prevention activities can reduce the risk of future lead exposure and poisoning, it is also highly important to detect and respond to cases where lead poisoning has occurred. […] Policy changes and outreach activities are still needed to achieve universal testing, which would improve early detection and intervention in cases of lead poisoning. […] Continued research and monitoring are warranted to track this key indicator of children’s health in order to minimize childhood exposure to lead.

• #3 Lead Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, Testing & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11312-lead-poisoning

  Lead poisoning is caused by exposure to high levels of lead. […] Lead poisoning is usually caused by eating or drinking (ingesting) lead, but touching or breathing in the toxic metal can also cause it. […] Lead can also contaminate: Herbal remedies or medicines, Toys and candies from foreign countries, Stained glass, Leaded crystal glassware, Glazed ceramic ware, including plates, pitchers and cups. […] The United States banned lead-based paint in 1978. […] Children mainly get lead poisoning by swallowing and/or absorbing lead-based paint used in houses that were built before 1978. […] Adults can get lead poisoning by being exposed to lead through eating food and drinking water contaminated with lead. […] Lead poisoning in adults can lead to serious health effects.

• #4 Sources of Lead

  https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/sources.htm

  Lead can be present in outdoor and indoor air. Lead in outdoor air comes mainly from industrial sources (e.g., smelters, waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers). […] Some folk medicines contain lead. They often are imported from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, the Dominican Republic, or Mexico. […] Lead has been found in inexpensive children’s jewelry sold in vending machines and large volume discount stores across the country. […] People exposed to lead at work may bring lead home on their clothes, shoes, hair, or skin. […] Lead may get into foods or liquids that have been stored in ceramics, pottery, china, or crystal with lead in it. […] Lead can be found in candy, wrappers, pottery containers, and in certain ethnic foods, such as chapulines (dried grasshoppers).

• #4 Lead Poisoning in Animals – Toxicology – Merck Veterinary Manual

  https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/lead-poisoning/lead-poisoning-in-animals

  The consumption, through grooming, of dust containing lead has been reported in cats. […] To prevent future occurrences of lead poisoning, it is crucial to identify the source. […] The degree of absorption and retention is influenced by dietary factors such as calcium or iron levels. […] Lead has a profound effect on sulfhydryl-containing enzymes, the thiol content of erythrocytes, antioxidant defenses, and tissues rich in mitochondria, which is reflected in the clinical syndrome. […] In addition to the cerebellar hemorrhage and edema associated with capillary damage, lead is also irritating, immunosuppressive, gametotoxic, teratogenic, nephrotoxic, and toxic to the hematopoietic system. […] Lead concentrations in various tissues may be useful to evaluate excessive accumulation and to reflect the level or duration of exposure, severity, and prognosis and the success of treatment.

• #4 Causes of Lead Poisoning | ZOTA Professional Training

  https://zotapro.com/blog/lead-poisoning-causes/

  For hundreds of years, lead has been used in a wide variety of housing materials. […] Lead is a naturally occurring metal. However, it can be harmful if ingested or inhaled. […] For most homeowners and building residents, lead-based paint is the prime suspect when it comes to lead poisoning. Homes built before 1978 are most susceptible, as they were constructed prior to lead bans on construction and home-building materials. […] Because children are most susceptible to lead poisoning, lets address both why and how lead poisoning can occur. […] Both physiology and behavior play a significant role in the causes of lead poisoning. […] The last piece of physiological evidence supporting the higher rate of lead poisoning in children is stomach chemistry. Lead is absorbed at a much higher rate in the guts of children coupled with their lower levels of calcium, iron, zinc, and absorbate its a perfect storm for lead poisoning.

• #4 How can we help you?

  https://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/217/lead-poisoning

  Lead is the most common cause of cattle poisoning. Animals die or perform poorly after accidentally ingesting lead. Gradual poisoning may also occur in areas with heavy industrial pollution. […] Even a small amount of lead can kill cattle. Cattle will readily drink crankcase oil, lick grease from machinery and chew on lead plumbing and batteries. Other frequent causes of poisoning include flaking high lead paint, ash from fires in which lead materials were burnt, lead shot from shooting. The lead in these materials settles in the stomachs of cattle, where stomach acids gradually change the lead into poisonous salts. […] Lead poisoning is most common among calves because they are curious feeders, and both milk and milk substitutes increase the amount of lead absorbed by calves. […] Cattle with lead poisoning are not fit for human consumption.

• #4 Lead exposure and poisoning in adults: Management – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/lead-exposure-and-poisoning-in-adults-management

  A blood lead level (BLL) >3.5 mcg/dL (0.17 micromol/L) is considered elevated in adults because it is greater than the BLL found in approximately 95 percent of the United States population. However, this BLL is not a threshold for toxicity. An elevated BLL may be encountered if a patient describes an exposure or has symptoms suspicious for lead poisoning, or testing is required by the workplace. Management depends on the circumstances of the lead exposure and testing, the extent of BLL elevation, and the presence of lead-related symptoms. Compared with children with lead poisoning, adults are chelated much less frequently and usually for higher BLLs. Similar to children, the mainstay of treatment is identifying and removing the source of the exposure. […] Sources of lead exposure and evaluation of adults with symptoms or elevated concentrations. […] Potential effects associated with lead exposure in adults. […] Sources of lead exposure.

• #4

  https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2022-almost-1-million-people-die-every-year-due-to-lead-poisoning–with-more-children-suffering-long-term-health-effects

  Lead is toxic to multiple body systems, including the central nervous system and brain, the reproductive system, kidneys, the cardiovascular system, the blood system and the immune system. […] WHO estimates that 30% of idiopathic intellectual disability, 4.6% of cardiovascular disease and 3% of chronic kidney diseases can be attributed to exposure to lead. […] Important sources of exposure include environmental contamination from the recycling of lead-acid batteries and from poorly controlled lead mining and smelting operations; the use of lead-containing traditional remedies; lead ceramic glazes used in food containers; lead pipes and other lead-containing components in water distribution systems; and lead paint. […] WHO has identified lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern needing action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age.

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