Lead is a toxic heavy metal found naturally in the environment and used in some products. It can harm humans and animals if ingested or inhaled. Children are especially vulnerable to lead toxicity, which can lower IQ and cause learning and behavioral problems. Pregnant women are also at risk because lead exposure can harm fetal development. Common sources of lead exposure include lead-based paint, contaminated soil, water pipes, and some folk remedies. Symptoms range from abdominal pain and fatigue at low levels to seizures and coma at very high levels. Treatment involves chelation therapy or surgery to remove lead from the body.

1. Lead Toxicity
By
Yasmin A. badi
Collage of pharmacy
Bahgdad Universty

2. What is Lead?
Lead is a heavy metal that is present at low
levels in the earth’s crust but has become
pervasive in the environment because of its
use in products such as gasoline, paint,
jewelry, water pipes, lead solder, and lead-
acid batteries.
While it has some beneficial uses, it can be
toxic to humans and animals,
causing health effects.
The International Programme on Chemical
Safety of the World Health Organization
(WHO) has identified lead as one of the 10
chemicals of major public health concern.

3. Sources of Lead Exposure
Work environment
Soil
Ceramics
Folk remedies
Lead solder
Drinking water
Fishing tackle
Costume/toy jewelry
Curtain weights
Artist oil paint
Vinyl miniblinds
Pool cue chalk
Antique toys
Glassware (leaded crystal)
Kohl

5. Who is at Risk?
Children
1-Lead is particularly dangerous to children because
their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do
and their brains and nervous systems are more
sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
2- Babies and young children can also be more highly
exposed to lead because they often put their hands and
other objects that can have lead from dust or soil on
them into their mouths.
3- Children may also be exposed to lead by eating and
drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes
or glasses that contain lead, inhaling lead dust from
lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil or from
playing with toys with lead paint.

6. Adults, Including Pregnant Women
Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and
drinking food or water containing lead or from
dishes or glasses that contain lead. They may also
breath lead dust by spending time in areas where
lead-based paint is deteriorating, and during
renovation or repair work that disturbs painted
surfaces in older homes and buildings. Working in
a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used,
such as making stained glass, can increase
exposure as can certain folk remedies containing
lead. A pregnant woman’s exposure to lead from
these sources is of particular concern because it
can result in exposure to her developing
baby

7. So the route of exposure is :
1- inhalation (most rapid)
2- ingestion (absorption is facilitated by
young age and diet deficient in calcium,
iron, and /or zinc) .
3-Transdermal (least efficient , but organic
inorganic absorption<absorption

8. Signs and symptoms :
Severe (whole blood lead level (BLL)
>100-150 mg/dl)
-encephalopathy (i.e., coma , seizures
,delirium , signs of increase ICP)
-foot/wrist droop
-abdominal pain (lead colic)
-vomiting
-anemia
-nephropathy

10. Moderate (BLL >80 mg /dl )
-headache
-memory loss
-fatigue
-irritability
-insomnia
-decreas in libido
-muscle pain/weakness
-abdominal pain
-anorexia
-weight loss
-nephropathy(if chronic exposure)
-mild anemia .

11. Mild (BLL > 40 mg/dl )
-fatigue
-moodiness
-hypertention
-dcreas in interest in everyday activities .

13. The Health Effects of Lead on Children
and Pregnant Women
Children six years old and younger are most susceptible
to the effects of lead.
Children
Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can
result in:
Behavior and learning problems
Lower IQ and Hyperactivity
Slowed growth
Hearing Problems
Anemia
In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma
and even death.

14. Pregnant Women
Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time,
where it is stored in bones along with calcium.
During pregnancy, lead is released from the
mother's bones along with calcium and can pass
from the mother exposing the fetus or the
breastfeeding infant to lead. This can result in
serious effects to the developing fetus and infant,
including:
Cause the baby to be born too early or too small;
Hurt the baby’s brain, kidney’s, and nervous
system;
Increase the likelihood of learning or behavioral
problems; and
Put the mother at risk for miscarriage.

15. Mechanisms of Toxicity
Lead exerts numerous adverse mechanisms of
toxicity.
1-Lead has a high affinity for sulfhydryl groups
which interfer with enzymes and stratural
proteins .
2-Many of lead’s toxic effects also result from its
inhibition of cellular function requiring
calcium(lead is chemically resembles calciume)
Lead binds to calcium-activated proteins with
much higher (105 times) affinity than calcium.
So interfer with calicume homeostasis and
calicume-dependent signaling and metabolic
bathways .

16. Treatment
1-Tow options are available, Chelation with
(CaNa2 EDTA) and dimercaprol (BAL) for sever
poisoning wit encephalopathy or with succimer
(DMSA) PO for patients able to tolerate oral
medication .
2- Whole bowle irrigation with polyethyline glycol
if lead foreigen bodies can be visulalized in the
GIT on radiograph .
3- endoscopic removal is indicated if the lead is in
the stomach or esophagus
4-surgiacl removal is indicated if the lead object
poses the threat of prolonged retention .

17. Refrances
1- Toxicology Recall by christopher P.
Holstege .
2-medscape
3- EPA