Lead is a naturally occurring metal that is commonly found in the environment due to its use in manufacturing and other industries. While lead is useful commercially, it accumulates over time and poses health risks, especially to children. Lead poisoning, also known as plumbism, can cause neurological damage and other health issues affecting organs and tissues. Symptoms of lead poisoning may include behavioral problems, headaches, and abdominal pain. Treatment involves reducing lead exposure and potentially using chelating agents to remove lead from the body. Preventing lead exposure is important, especially for children, through measures like testing old homes for lead paint and maintaining proper nutrition.

1. Plumbism
Dr. Radhakrishna G Pillai
Department of Life Sciences
University of Calicut

2. Presence in the Environment
• Lead is useful commercially, but also
accumulates in the environment, because it
– A. reacts easily with acids, alkalis, and other
chemicals
– B. Highly stable -does not break down over time
– C. is very soluble in water
– D. is most commonly found in the inorganic form.

3. Plumbism
• Lead poisoning
• Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth's crust
• Found in all parts of our environment- much of it comes
from human activities such as mining and manufacturing
• Lead used in paints- old houses may still have lead paint
• Lead exposure by;
– Eating food or drinking water that contains lead. Old water
pipes contain lead.
– Working in a job where lead is used
– Using lead in a hobby, such as making stained glass or lead-
glazed pottery
– Using folk remedies such as herbs or foods that contain lead

4. Lead poisoning
• Breathing air, drinking water, eating food, or swallowing or
touching dirt that contains lead can cause many health
problems
• Lead can affect almost every organ and system in our body
• In adults, lead can;
– increase blood pressure
– cause infertility, nerve disorders, and muscle and joint pain.
– It can also make you irritable and affect your ability to concentrate
and remember
• Lead is dangerous for children
• A child who swallows large amounts of lead may develop
anemia, severe stomachache, muscle weakness, and brain
damage.
• Even at low levels, lead can affect a child's mental and physical
growth.

5. Acute/chronic lead poisoning
• Exposure to high lead levels in a short period
of time is called acute toxicity
• Exposure to small amounts of lead over a
long period of time is called chronic toxicity

6. Children affected more
• Children generally ingest lead-contaminated soil and
house dust at higher rates than adults because of
mouthing and hand-to-mouth behaviors
• Children who exhibit a compulsive hand-to-mouth
behavior and repeated eating of nonfood items, are at
greatest risk
• Children have a higher breathing rate than adults,
breathing in a greater volume of air per pound.
• Being shorter than adults are, children are more likely to
breathe lead-contaminated dust and soil as well as fumes
close to the ground.
• In addition, the percent of lead absorbed in the gut,
especially in an empty stomach, is estimated to be as
much as five to 10 times greater in infants and young
children than in adults.

7. Lead- spreads all over body
• No known use in our body
• Once it gets into a person's system, it is
distributed throughout the body just like helpful
minerals such as iron, calcium, and zinc
• It can cause harm wherever it lands in the body
• In the bloodstream, for example, it can damage
red blood cells and limit their ability to carry
oxygen to the organs and tissues that need it,
thus causing anemia.

8. Lead in our body
• Most lead ends up in the bone, where it causes
even more problems
• Lead can interfere with the production of
blood cells and the absorption of calcium that
bones need to grow healthy and strong
• Calcium is essential for strong bones and
teeth, muscle contraction, and nerve and
blood vessel function.

9. Effects of Long-Term Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning can lead to a variety of health problems in
kids, including:
decreased bone and muscle growth
poor muscle coordination
damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and/or
hearing
speech and language problems
developmental delay
seizures and unconsciousness (in cases of
extremely high lead levels)

10. Signs of Lead Poisoning
• Many kids with lead poisoning don't show any signs of being sick, so it's
important to eliminate lead risks at home
• When kids do develop symptoms of lead poisoning, they usually appear as:
– irritability or behavioral problems
– difficulty concentrating
– headaches
– loss of appetite, weight loss
– sluggishness or fatigue
– abdominal pain
– vomiting or nausea
– constipation
– pallor (pale skin) from anemia
– metallic taste in mouth
– muscle and joint weakness or pain
– seizures
• These symptoms also can indicate a wide variety of other illnesses, so blood test
may be necessary to look for lead poisoning or other health problems

11. Treatment
• Treatment for lead poisoning varies depending on how
much lead is in the blood
– Small amounts often can be treated rather easily;
– the most important part of therapy is reduction of lead
exposure.
– Gradually, as the body naturally eliminates the lead, the level
of lead in the blood will fall.
• Persons with severe cases and extremely high lead levels
in their blood
– hospitalized to receive a medication called a chelating agent,
which chemically binds with lead, making it weaker so the
body can get rid of it naturally
• Calcium, iron, and vitamin C are important parts of a
healthy diet and also help to decrease the way the body
absorbs lead

12. Dealing with lead sources
• Be wary of old plumbing
• Keep your home and your family clean
• Ensure that iron and calcium are in your diets
• Know where your kids play
• Don't sand or heat lead-based paint as it
increases the risk that lead will be inhaled
• a new layer of paint, paneling, or drywall will
probably reduce the risk

13. References
• Besser JM, Brumbaugh WG, Brunson EL, Ingersoll CG,
Acute and chronic toxicity of lead in water and diet to
the amphipod Hyalella azteca. Environ Toxicol
Chem. 2005 Jul;24(7):1807-15.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
www.cdc.gov/lead go for more in-depth information?
• http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm
• www.epa.gov/lead
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) -www.cdc.gov/niosh/
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
or www.osha.gov.