Lead Poisoning

Lead Poisoning, as defined by Googles Oxford Languages, is “acute or chronic poisoning due to the absorption of lead into the body”.

Lead poisoning occurs when there is lead build up in the body. Now, many readers may be curious how much lead must build up in the body for lead poisoning to occur? And it is important to note that there is no safe amount of lead in the body.

Furthermore, lead poisoning can be difficult to detect. It is noted by MayoClinic.org that lead poisoning signs and symptoms usually don’t appear until dangerous amount of lead have accumulated in the body. It is also crucial to note that high levels of lead in the blood can be fatal. This is why our company is so dedicated to tackling the lead infrastructure issues in Milwaukee!

Causes

Lead is a metal. And as you may or may not remember from your 6th grade science class lead is found naturally in the earths crust. On the periodic table lead can be found on the lower right hand side labeled as PB 82 207.2. This metal has become an important part of our industrial system. Companies have been extracting the metal through mining activities, burning fossil fuels, and manufacturing products. Because of this choice lead shows up in some common everyday products.

Lead is most commonly found in paint, water pipes, and soil. These three sources are the main causes for lead poisoning in Milwaukee. Although, it is worth noting that an induvial can get lead poisoning from other sources as well.

Lead is also used or found in,

• Batteries
• Solder
• Pottery
• Roofing materials
• Household
• Toys
• Cosmetics

Health Effects

If a person gets lead poisoning they could suffer several health problems. Lead interferes with a persons ability to think through a problem and make decisions, it affects learning abilities, and impairs cognitive development.

Being exposed to lead is more harmful to children under six years of age. It is more harmful to this age group because the child’s bodies are still developing and growing. It is also more common for younger children to put their hands and other objects in their mouth.

Sypmtoms

Although there are several health effects of lead poisoning, it can still be hard to detect. Signs and symptoms may not appear in individuals with lead poisoning until dangerous amounts have already accumulated.

If a child is exposed to lead it can seriously harm their overall health and well-being. The effects a child would experience is damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, as well as hearing and speech problems. These health effects will then lead to lower IQ, decreased ability to pay attention, and underperformance in school.

Other symptoms may include,

• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Hearing loss
• Seizures

When adults are exposed to lead they can suffer from reproductive problems, high blood pressure, hypertension, nerve disorders, memory, and concentration problems, as well as muscle and joint pain.

Other symptoms may include,

• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Mood disorders
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Premature birth

When You Should Worry

The City of Milwaukee states that if a child has about 20 micrograms per deciliter in their blood levels, they would issue a public health nurse and a lead risk assessor.

There are also studies explaining that only three to five micrograms per deciliter in the blood stream means that considerable damage to the body is already done. In addition, the CDC states that, "there only needs to be 3.5 micrograms per deciliter in the blood stream to cause damage."

So in conclusion, if you suspect lead poisoning is affecting your health request an appointment to see a doctor.

What You Can Do

There are a few things that can be done to help protect you and your loved ones from the dangerous effects of lead poisoning.

• Dust surfaces
• Remove your shoes when entering the house
• Run cold water for a minute before using
• Don't let kids play in soil
• Eat a healthy diet
• Keep your home well clean
• Reach out to government officials to encrouage positive change!