What makes lead a toxin

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 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.

Lead pipes, brass plumbing fixtures and copper pipes soldered with lead can release lead particles into tap water. Lead solder in food cans, banned in the United States, is still used in some countries. Lead can harm an unborn child, so pregnant women or women likely to become pregnant should be especially careful to avoid exposure to lead. Exposure to even low levels of lead can cause damage over time, especially in children. The greatest risk is to brain development, where irreversible damage can occur.

Higher levels can damage the kidneys and nervous system in both children and adults. Very high lead levels may cause seizures, unconsciousness and death. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. If someone has symptoms of severe lead exposure, call or local emergency medical services. Be sure to have the following information ready to tell the emergency operator:.

In nonemergency situations, call your local poison control to discuss lead poisoning symptoms. They will let you speak with an expert.

Lead poisoning occurs when lead is ingested. Breathing in dust that contains lead can also cause it. 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. Children are at the highest risk of lead poisoning, especially if they live in old houses with chipping paint. This is because children are prone to putting objects and fingers in their mouths. People in developing countries are also at a higher risk.

Many countries do not have strict rules regarding lead. If you adopt a child from a developing country, their lead levels should be checked. Lead poisoning is diagnosed with a blood lead test. This test is performed on a standard blood sample. Lead is common in the environment.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that no amount of lead in the blood is safe. It is known that levels as low as 5 micrograms per deciliter can be associated with health problems in children. Additional tests could include blood tests to look at the amount of iron storing cells in the blood, X-rays , and possibly a bone marrow biopsy. The first step of treatment is to locate and remove the source of the lead. Keep children away from the source. On the other hand, I have evaluated adults in our clinic who had elevated blood lead levels after inhaling lead vapor following heating of lead in poorly ventilated areas.

A couple of those cases included a hobbyist who made his own lead musket balls in his basement for Revolutionary War and Civil War reenactments and a military marksmen who was practicing target shooting with lead ammo. One of my patients who was pregnant was using a heat gun to strip lead paint in an old home and developed markedly elevated blood lead levels via inhalation, placing her fetus at risk since lead crosses the placenta.

The clinical effects from lead toxicity are potentially subtle and may be slow to emerge and may not be noticed initially. The timing of symptoms is based on the dose taken into the body and the time over which lead enters the body. A child who ingests a lead fishing sinker that is retained in the stomach may have a rapid rise in blood lead levels and become symptomatic over days with nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sedation. On the other hand, a child exposed to ingested dust contaminating the hands daily may develop few and subtle symptoms that take years to manifest, if at all.

Once lead enters the body, it first flows through the blood stream where it slowly crosses into various organs such as the kidneys, muscles and brain. Lead is bad for humans because it interferes with numerous enzymes inside the cells of these organs. This results in symptoms such as muscle and joint aches as well as constipation and overall fatigue. It damages our brains by interfering with how brain cells send messages and communicate.

Lead decreases fertility in both males and females. Children 9 months to 2 years are more likely to have higher lead levels because they crawl around and put their hands and other things in their mouth. Lead can pass from a mother to her unborn baby. If you are pregnant and think you have been exposed to lead or were exposed in the past, talk to your doctor about getting a blood test to check lead levels. The most common way that kids get lead poisoning is from lead-based paint in older homes.

Lead paint was banned in the United states in the late s. Gasoline also contained lead, which was released into the air in car exhaust. Kids are exposed to lead from chipping paint; house dust; and contaminated soil around older homes, streets, airports, and industrial areas.

Many children with lead poisoning have no symptoms. But even low-level lead exposure can lead to learning and behavior problems, like trouble paying attention. Symptoms of lead poisoning include:. A simple blood test can diagnose lead poisoning. Lead testing is also recommended for kids who live in an older home or whose parent has a hobby or job that involves being around lead.