Lead poisoning

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lead poisoning, also known as plumbism and saturnism, is a condition where there is too much lead in the body. Lead interferes with many processes in the human body.

Lead exposure is preventable[1][2] It is toxic to many organs and tissues, including the bones and brain. The half-life of lead in these tissues is measured in weeks for blood, months for soft tissues, and years for bone[3]. Lead in the bones, teeth, hair, and nails is bound tightly and not available to other tissues, and is generally thought not to be harmful[4]. In adults, 94% of absorbed lead ends up in the bones and teeth, but children only store 70% in this way, a fact which may partially account for the more serious health effects on children[5].

In 2013, lead is believed to have resulted in 853,000 deaths worldwide[6]

Lead poisoning
Other namesPlumbism, colica pictorum, saturnism, Devon colic, painter's colic
An X-ray demonstrating the characteristic finding of lead poisoning in humans—dense metaphyseal lines
Medical specialtyToxicology
SymptomsIntellectual disability, abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, irritability, memory problems, inability to have children, tingling in the hands and feet[7][8]
ComplicationsAnemia, seizures, coma[7][8]
CausesExposure to lead via contaminated air, water, dust, food, consumer products[8]
Risk factorsYoung age, pica[8]
Diagnostic methodBlood lead level[8]
Differential diagnosisIron deficiency anemia, malabsorption, ADHD, anxiety disorder, polyneuropathy[9]
PreventionRemoving lead from the home, improved monitoring and education in the workplace, laws that ban lead in products[8][10][11][12]
TreatmentChelation therapy[10]
MedicationDimercaprol, edetate calcium disodium, succimer[13]
Deaths540,000 (2016)[8]

Causes[change | change source]

The risk of lead poisoning is very small in developed countries. However, lead might be used in paints, petrol or food containers[14] in some places where it might be legal, such as in developing countries. Other ways a person can be exposed is[1][14] from:

  • lead pipes
  • a lead water tank
  • pipework with lead fittings

Causing the water supply to be contaminated.

Environmental contamination come from mining, smelting, manufacturing and recycling activities and use in a wide range of products. Most world wide lead consumption is for the manufacture of lead-acid batteries for motor vehicles. Lead is, however, also used in many other products[14], for example pigments, paints, solder, stained glass, lead crystal glassware, ammunition, ceramic glazes, jewellery, toys, some traditional cosmetics such as kohl and sindoor, and some traditional medicines used in countries such as India, Mexico and Viet Nam[1].

Symptoms[change | change source]

Symptoms of lead poisoning include coughing, fatigue, and severe dehydration.

Exposure to lead can be harmful especially to unborn babies and young children. Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing fetus[1]. Infants and young children absorb 4-5 times[1] the amount of lead from a given source than adults[14]. There is no known safe blood lead concentration in children[15]. The signs and symptoms in young children can include[14]:

Even blood lead concentrations as low as 3.5 µg/dL may be associated with decreased intelligence in children, behavioural difficulties and learning problems[15]

Although children are at increased risk of the effects of lead poisoning, exposure can also result in illness in adults. Symptoms in adults can include[14]:

Treatment[change | change source]

Treatment of the condition is usually to remove the source of lead. Animals sometimes die from lead poisoning. Mostly, children are at risk for this condition.

CDC management guidelines for children with elevated blood levels[17]
Blood lead
level (μg/dL)		 Treatment
10–14 Education,
repeat screening
15–19 Repeat screening, case
management to abate sources
20–44 Medical evaluation,
case management
45–69 Medical evaluation,
chelation, case management
>69 Hospitalization, immediate
chelation, case management



References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Lead poisoning". www.who.int. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  2. ↑ "Do You Know the Common Sources of Lead Exposure Today?". CentraCare. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  3. ↑ "Lead encephalopathy due to traditional medicines". Current drug safety. 3: 54–59. 2008.
  4. ↑ "Environmental and nutritional pathology". Rubin's Pathology: Clinicopathologic Foundations of Medicine (5th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-7817-9516-6.
  5. ↑ "A critical review of biomarkers used for monitoring human exposure to lead: advantages, limitations, and future needs". Environmental Health Perspectives. 113 (12): 1169–1674. December 2005.
  6. ↑ "Lead poisoning". www.who.int. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cite error: The named reference CDC2013Sym was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Cite error: The named reference WHO2016 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  9. ↑ Ferri, Fred F. (2010). "L". Ferri's differential diagnosis : a practical guide to the differential diagnosis of symptoms, signs, and clinical disorders (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN 978-0-323-07699-9.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Cite error: The named reference Dap2014 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  11. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Need2004 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  12. ↑ Cite error: The named reference CDC2016Prev was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  13. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Gra2007 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 NHS inform - Scot. 2024 https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/lead-poisoning/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "CDC updates blood lead reference value to 3.5µg/dL". US CDC Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. 2021.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Lead Information for Workers". 30 September 2013.
  17. ↑ Kosnett (2006) p. 242
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