Lead Poisoning–Causes

List of lead poisoning, lead poisoning kids, lead poisoning home

Consumption, inhaling, touching – all these is causes of lead poisoning. Children run the risk of poisoning by licking or chewing items such as toys, jewellery, and woodwork consisting of lead or painted with it.
In 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) came to the conclusion that the toys and jewellery made in certain countries consisted high amount of lead. The list of such items is given in their website: ‘www.cpsc.gov’. The atmosphere polluted with lead vapors, dust etc and soil are all causes. Poisoning is normally caused by long exposure, probably months or years, without actually knowing about it. Unfortunately it cannot be smelt or tasted. Everyone has a small amount of lead in his body.
In the past, when the harmful effects of lead were not realized, lead had found its use in domestic water pipes, cans for drinks and food items, pigments, gasoline- to name a few. Earlier to 1950, Paint used for residences contained almost 50% of lead. About 25% of houses in the country are hazardous for accommodation because of lead contamination in one way or the other. Environmental regulations resulted in the reduction of use of lead in various applications. For example, in 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of lead in domestic water supply system. The drawback with lead is that it does break down.
The mother’s breast milk can transfer the lead poison to the child. Even the unborn baby in the mother’s womb is likely to be affected if the pregnant woman is exposed to lead.
A recent study on urban children showed that children with iron deficiency are more prone to lead intake and subsequently lead poisoning. Though this can not be taken for granted yet, it can be presumed that the higher the iron intake, the lesser the risk of lead poisoning.
The other common causes of lead poisoning include:
Imported candies, toys, crayons, cosmetics, alternative medicines, supplements, vitamins etc manufactured in certain countries.
Food items and drinks stored in cans make of lead or lined inside with lead foils.
Homemade liquor made with lead solder, for example, “moonshine whiskey”, manufactured in southern states of USA.
Working in mines, metal smelters and companies dealing in batteries, radiators, electrical products including cables, wires etc.
Soil contaminated with lead from smelters, gasoline, hazardous waste etc.
Involving in hobbies where one handle materials like stained glass, pottery etc. with lead content.