Lead Poisoning

The ill effects of lead exposure were first discovered in the early 1900s, when the metal became linked with high rates of infertility, stillbirths and early infant deaths. In the century since, more discoveries have been made about the hazards of lead exposure and the lead poisoning that has become so common, especially among young children.

Lead has long been used as a paint pigment in homes, offices and schools. It has also commonly been used to coat metal or steel structures. Lead poisoning is most common in young children because of the frequency with which they put dirty hands in their mouths. Skin-to-lead contact also allows for the poison to be ingested if the hands enter the mouth.

Additionally, because teething toddlers often chew on whatever they can, lead paint-covered objects pose a serious threat to their health. Paint chips, old, painted toys and painted metal crib railings provide a number of hazards for young children, whose developing bodies cannot handle the buildup of lead. The digestive system absorbs lead into the bloodstream where it remains and accumulates over time, resulting in severe lead poisoning. While the dangers of lead are now known, and there has been a ban on the use of lead in interior paint and on toys, older toys and older homes often contain the hazardous materials. Removal of lead products and lead paint could increase exposure to lead poisoning and should be done with care.

Lead poisoning is not only a concern for children. Adults exposed to lead in the home, workplace or environment also face the threat of lead poisoning related to overexposure. Lead poisoning is most likely to affect adults living in older homes where deteriorating lead-based paint has decomposed into dust particles, which are then inhaled through contaminated air. The lead particles pass all the way through the respiratory tract and end up in the lungs, where they are processed along with oxygen, allowing them to easily enter the bloodstream.

Lead poisoning can also be attributed to the presence of lead in drinking water. Water system pipes used to be treated with lead; water that passes through these pipes and into the home is likely to be contaminated. Years of drinking contaminated water could lead to severe lead poisoning, so it is important to have drinking water tested for the contaminant.

Lead poisoning is a cumulative problem. Regular exposure to lead slowly poisons the body and causes irreversible damage.

Lead Exposure Breaking News

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An environmental watchdog group in New Jersey recently issued a warning regarding excessive amounts of lead in artificial turf.

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"Toys "R" Us Recall of 27,000 "Imaginarium" Cases"

Toys "R" Us, Inc. has recalled some 27,000 "Imaginarium" brand wooden coloring cases because of excessive lead in the ink on the outer packaging and in some of the black watercolor » Read More

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