A serious health condition that may affect anyone who is exposed to high levels of lead is called lead poisoning. While this condition is considered a thing of the past, it still causes multiple problems in certain areas of the U.S. and other parts of the world. There are some treatment options that can effectively remove lead from the body, but some long-term effects can occur.
In other words, lead poisoning (also known as lead toxicity) is a serious disorder in which a child or adult is continuously exposed to high levels of lead. While the most common source of lead is lead-based paint, it is also present in other products. Most of the time, lead poisoning is a condition that affects children who live in older houses with peeling lead paint and lead pipes. Sometimes, this chemical may contaminate:
- Stained glass
- Herbal remedies or medicines
- Soil near roadways, older houses, and industrial sites
- Leaded crystal glassware
- Glazed ceramic ware (including pitchers, cups, and plates)
While lead-based paints are banned, which have dropped lead poisoning cases by more than 95%, it remains a major public health problem that may cause severe complications in your child.
What Are The Symptoms of Lead Poisoning?
While some children who are exposed to lead do not have symptoms, they do not appear right away. Commonly, the symptoms of lead poisoning appear within weeks or months after exposure to high levels of lead. Check some common symptoms of lead poisoning below:
- Cramps
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Behavioral changes
- Hyperactivity
- Learning problems
Adults who develop lead toxicity may also experience symptoms. These include:
- Infertility
- Reduced sex drive
- Numbness in the feet and legs
- Personality changes
- Pain in the abdomen (belly)
If you or your child has any of the symptoms listed above, immediately contact your healthcare professional. Otherwise, it may lead to certain serious complications.
Causes and Risk Factors
Commonly, children in the United States get this condition by swallowing or absorbing lead-based paint used in houses that were built before 1978. The lead goes into their bodies when they:
- Touch or eat peeling paint chips and flakes that contain lead
- Put their toys, hands, or other items with lead dust in the mouth
- Breathe in lead dust
- Chew on windowsills, door frames, furniture, and other items that are covered with lead-based paints
- Drink water from older water pipes that may contain lead
Moreover, adults can also get lead toxicity, especially if they are exposed to lead through eating food or drinking contaminated water. For instance, a person may eat food or drink water from contaminated cups or dishes. Sometimes, people develop lead poisoning when they are working on a home remodel.
While anyone can develop this condition, the following factors could increase your risk even more. Check some examples below:
- Age – Children under 6 years of age and those who live in low-income households are at increased risk for lead toxicity.
- Immigrants and refugees due to less strict rules about lead exposure in their home countries
- Pregnant women
- Previous lead exposure
- Contaminated food or water
- People who work in industries or have hobbies that involve exposure to lead are also at increased risk for lead toxicity
What Are The Possible Complications of Lead Poisoning?
Those who develop this condition may also experience some complications, especially if they leave it untreated. Examples include:
- Chronic (long-term) intellectual disabilities
- Sudden brain damage
- Behavioral problems
- Attention deficits
- Growth delays
- Hearing issues
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death (rarely)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Reproductive problems
- Pregnancy complications (including miscarriage, preterm birth, reduced fetal growth, and others)
- Encephalopathy (brain swelling)
This document does not contain a full list of complications, but you can talk with your doctor about ways to reduce the risk or even prevent them.
How to Prevent Lead Poisoning?
Generally, lead poisoning is preventable, even if you live in a house or apartment in the U.S. that was built before 1978. Moreover, you can talk to the state or local health department for testing the paint for lead. If you are living in houses where water pipes contain lead, you should let the faucet run cold water for about 1 minute before using that water for cooking, preparing baby formula, or drinking. Doctors may also recommend the following tips to reduce your child’s risk of developing this condition. For example:
- Regularly wipe your feet before entering the house and leave your shoes at the door
- Wipe thoroughly floors and other surfaces with a damp mop or cloth regularly
- Do not remove lead-based paint on your own
- Avoid any home remedies that may contain lead
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water (especially before eating)
- Make sure your child eats healthy foods that contain Calcium, Iron, and vitamin C
There are some measures that may also help prevent this condition in adults. These include wearing protective equipment, change the clothing and shoes after work, and showering when you get home.
Diagnosis
First, doctors will perform a physical examination to check for abnormalities linked to lead toxicity. Thereafter, they will ask some questions about the symptoms to gather more information about your condition. Generally, to confirm or rule out this condition, doctors perform blood tests that help measure the amount of lead in the blood. It is important to understand that any amount of lead in the blood means you or your child has been exposed to this chemical. There are 2 ways to perform a blood lead test. These include:
- Capillary test – During this test, physicians will prick the child’s finger or heel to get a sample of blood. While it is a quick test, high results often require a second test to confirm.
- Blood draw – In such cases, doctors will take a blood sample from a vein in the arm. Commonly, it takes longer to get results.
Sometimes, physicians may perform additional tests to check whether the condition has caused damage to other parts of the body. These include:
- X-ray of the child’s stomach and intestines
- Iron storage tests
- Anemia screening (including a complete blood count)
Treatment
In most cases, the treatment for lead poisoning begins with finding the source of the exposure. When it is found, you should take steps to stay away or remove it. Furthermore, doctors may also recommend foods high in vitamin C, Iron, and Calcium for your child. They often help reduce lead levels in the blood and maintain the immune system strong. One way to prevent serious complications is early detection and proper treatment.
In some cases, the child’s physician may recommend chelation therapy, which is used to help remove lead from the body more efficiently. However, there are other procedures that also help remove lead from the body. Another one is called whole-bowel irrigation, which involves a specific solution (polyethylene glycol). It helps wash out the contents of the stomach and intestines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can lead poisoning be reversed in adults?
Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse damage caused by lead, but it is very important to remove it from the body to prevent further damage. You should also find the sources of lead from the home or the environment.
Should I be concerned about lead poisoning if I’m pregnant?
It is very important to prevent lead poisoning in pregnant women because it can cause serious complications. High levels of lead in the blood of pregnant women significantly increase the risk for preterm labor, miscarriage, damage to the baby’s brain, nerves, and kidneys, and others.
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning in adults?
These include stomach cramps or pain, appetite changes, irritability, memory loss, fatigue, reduced sex drive, infertility, a metallic taste in the mouth, and others. If any of them occur, do not hesitate to visit a doctor for a diagnosis. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any other questions.
