Lead Poisoning–What Happens?

Lead poisoning, brain damage, lead poisoning prevention

Consuming lead contaminated substances and inhaling lead vapors or air polluted with lead oxides result in lead poisoning. It can also be caused due to long exposure to lead. When the intake of lead is more than the extract, the balance will accumulate in blood, organs, bones, teeth etc. This amounts to lead poisoning.

Lead is slowly eliminated from the body through urine, bowel movement and to some extend through sweat. The problem with lead poisoning is that the symptoms will be noticeable only after the damage to the systems has been partially done already.
Lead poisoning can damage reproductive system, central nervous system (including brain and spinal cord) and kidneys. It can cause high blood pressure. Intellectual development of children can also be affected by it.

Blood lead levels are measured in ‘micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dl). The doctors have different opinions about the safe level of lead in the blood. Lead has no known function for the body. Its level in people before the industrial revolution of the 19th century and early 20th century was al most zero.

Effects of high blood lead levels in children:

It is observed that more than adults, children are affected by high blood lead levels, which is caused by lead poisoning. The United States Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) have fixed five classes for lead poisoning –

Class 1 - blood lead level of up to 9 mcg/dl. or up to 0.48 micromoles/liter (mcmol/L)

Class 2A - blood levels between 10 and 14 mcg/dl or between 0.48 and 0.68 mcmol/L

Class 2B – blood levels between 15 and 19 mcg/dl or between 0.70 and 0.96 mcmol/L

Class 3 – blood levels between 20 and 44 mcg/dl or between 0.97 and 2.1 mcmol/L

Class 4 – blood levels between 45 and 69 mcg/dl or between 2.17 and 3.33 mcmol/L

Class 5 – blood levels more than 69 mcg/dl or more than 3.33 mcmol/ L

In the case of Class 1, children will have problem in their studies, meaning their grasping power may be affected.

In the case of Classes 2 A, 2 B, in addition to the above problem, the children may have poor audibility. Their growth may also be affected.

In the case of Class 3, children will have headache, nervous disorder and weight loss.

In the case of Class 4, the children suffer from severe stomachache, seizure and poor production of red blood cells.

In the case of Class 5, the brain may be seriously affected and the effect may be fatal.

The unborn baby in the mother’s womb, if affected, will not have proper growth; will be of underweight and low intelligence, when it grows. Nervous system damage and lack of ability to concentrate are the other effects. A recent study has shown that Intelligent Quotient declines in the case of children with blood lead levels less than 10 mcg/dl, the level of concern as per CDC.

Effects of high blood lead levels in adults:

In the case of adults blood lead levels of more than 14 mcg/dl, blood cell development
may be affected. And if it is more than 39 mcg/dl., the following disorders are likely:

High blood pressure.

Low production of hemoglobin.

Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.

Damage to the nervous system, causing fatigue, slow reaction time, loss of temper, loss of memory etc.

Damage to the reproductive system, causing decreased sperm counts and increased number of abnormal sperms. Very high blood lead levels may even cause miscarriage or stillbirth.