Lead Poisoning
The metal lead has been in popular use for thousands of years, due to its low melting point, durability, and malleability. It has been used in everything from jewelry, to bullets, to the distilling of rum. Oddly, it has remained in common use despite its dangers, which have been known since at least 200 B.C. The US Environmental Protection Agency did not even regulate this dangerous substance until 1971, when it began to limit the amount of it that could be used in the production of paint.
The main danger of this particular metal is a condition known as lead poisoning. It occurs when the metal is ingested over long periods of time. The problem is that it plays no biological role in the human body, but resembles elements such as calcium and iron that play important roles in interactions between enzymes. As a result, it can interrupt the important work that enzymes do for humans.
This type of poisoning, like many others, is most common among people who work with hazardous substances and children. Because lead remains in common use in the manufacturing industry, people with factory and metalworking jobs are often exposed to it. All companies in this field are required to keep their workers’ exposure to dangerous chemicals to a minimum, as well as offer medical monitoring so health problems can be caught early.
Children are at risk because of their small size and their tendency to ingest nearly anything. Children have been exposed to hazardous chemicals by ingesting soil, paint chips, and by chewing on toys that were not made under proper safety regulation. Ingestion can occur through the nose, mouth eyes, and even small lesions in the skin.
This poisonous element accumulates in body tissues over time and is released very slowly. It is mainly stored in the bones, but can affect many organs and systems. Symptoms can include neurological problems like hyperactivity or lethargy, insomnia, headache, irritability, and seizures. There can also be gastrointestinal problems like stomach pain, vomiting, poor appetite, and weight loss. Anemia, kidney malfunction, and reproductive difficulties are also common symptoms.
The most severe outcomes include lifelong extreme learning disabilities, coma, and death. There have also been studies showing a correlation between childhood lead exposure and committing violent crimes later in life. However, this correlation does not prove a direct relationship.
Tags: lead, lead poisoning, poisoning
Posted in Health
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