Common diseases of lead poisoning

In children, lead poisoning can cause damage to the central nervous system, peripheral, disability .

Children can die if lead is severe

Lead is a heavy metal with large reserves in the Earth's crust. However, lead has absolutely no physiological role in the human body. That's why the harms caused by lead exposure are countless.

Lead poisoning has been recorded since ancient Roman, Greek and Chinese times. So far, this toxic metal has been restricted for use. Even so, there are about 143,000 lead-related deaths every year, mainly in developing countries.

When drinking lead-contaminated water directly into the body, they will be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. For adults , the amount of lead absorbed into the body is only about 3-10% , but for children will absorb about 40-50% of the amount of lead dissolved in the water into the body. This is why children are the main danger if exposed to lead.

In children , even low levels of exposure to lead can cause damage to the central nervous system, peripheral, disability, growth retardation, hearing loss and hematopoietic function.

For children, a low concentration of lead can also leave sequelae for the rest of their lives.

Older children may have problems with low IQ, hyperactivity . In rare cases, lead poisoning can cause seizures, coma and death.

For pregnant women , lead accumulates in the body competing with calcium in the bones. It can cross the placental barrier, expose the baby. As a result, fetal growth is reduced and the mother is at risk of preterm birth.

In adults , lead exposure has also been reported to have an effect on the cardiovascular system such as hypertension. It also causes impairment of kidney function and adverse effects on reproduction. However, if detected early, lead therapy may not leave sequelae in adults.

How much lead content leads to poisoning?

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the level of lead in drinking water must be limited to below 0.015 mg / L. Many experts also point out that the number of dangers must be even lower, below 0.01mg / L.

Poisoning in humans is diagnosed by testing blood lead levels . A person is counted as poisoning and must be treated when the blood lead level is higher than 0.6mg / L.

For children, the level of lead in the blood must be below 0.05mg / L. Lead levels of 0.1 to 0.25mg / L may have been associated with neurological impairment. Levels above 0.25mg / L will cause headaches, discomfort and more serious neurological problems.

Lead content of 0.5-0.7mg / L is counted as moderate toxicity. Over 0.7mg / L is counted as severe poisoning and may cause seizures and death.

Studies show that blood lead levels increase by about 0.1mg / L , with a concentration of 0.05mg of lead in 1 liter of water consumed.

Thus, just drinking water with lead concentration of 0.05mg / L , children can be exposed to lead with twice the blood level. With this level of lead is enough to cause a decline in neurological function of the child.