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There are three main ways for lead to enter the body: inhalation, ingestion and absorption. When excessive lead exposure occurs through any of these methods, there is a great risk of lead poisoning.
After lead enters the bloodstream, it is circulated through the body and stored in various bones, organs and body tissues. Lead often settles in long bones, such as the legs and arms, fatty tissue, the liver and the kidneys, which are responsible for purifying blood to be distributed throughout the body. However, the kidneys are not able to remove the lead from the blood, so it gets stored or passed on to other organs, thus poisoning the entire body. The effects of lead poisoning are damaging to a number of physiological systems, including the circulatory system, nervous system and reproductive system.
Lead is a cumulative poison; it builds up over time until the damage it causes is irreversible. Effects of lead poisoning often appear shortly after exposure begins. Although very low levels of lead exposure do not show any short-term effects, there is no safe level of lead exposure. Long-term exposure to even low levels of lead can lead to severe lead poisoning. Ill effects will eventually appear.
Acute, or short-term, effects of lead poisoning include a metallic taste in the mouth, stomach pain and vomiting, diarrhea and black stools.
Chronic, or long-term, effects are much more serious, as they may not appear until lead poisoning has been occurring for a number of years, and they may never subside. Examples of chronic effects of lead poisoning include loss of appetite, constipation or nausea, stomach pain, yellow coloring of the skin, excessive tiring or weakness, weight loss, insomnia, headache, nervous irritability, tremors, numbness, dizziness, hyperactivity and anxiety.
Severe lead poisoning can cause even more serious effects on the nervous system, including a condition called peripheral neuropathy. This condition is characterized by weakness or paralysis in the hands or legs caused by damaged peripheral nerves. Encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease, and severe psychological disorders can also occur.
Lead poisoning has also been linked to serious reproductive problems in both men and women. Abnormal menstrual cycles and sterility are possible effects in people with high levels of lead exposure. Furthermore, lead poisoning is particularly harmful to pregnant women. Risk of stillbirth or miscarriage increases in women with high levels of lead in their bloodstream. Additionally, lead poisoning in pregnant women can be transferred to their newborns, leading to developmental delays, kidney disorders and nervous system impairments.
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