Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the earth’s crust. It exists all around us – in the air, soil, water, and even in our homes. It is an important element in the environment due to its physio-chemical properties. Important properties like softness, ductility, malleability, poor conductibility, and resistance to corrosion make it difficult to give up its use. Globally it is distributed abundantly, an important yet dangerous environmental chemical. Abundant and distributed globally but due to its non-biodegradable nature and its continued use of it, its concentration accumulates in the environment with increasing hazard to human health. Lead is a highly poisonous metal. It gets into your system through your bloodstream affecting almost every organ in the body. Of all organs, the nervous system is the most affected target in lead toxicity, both in children and adults. However, toxicity in children has a greater impact than in adults since children has softer tissues, internal as well as external than in adults, and they are still in their developing stage. Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body over a period of months or years which mainly result from inhalation and/or digestion of contaminated lead particles. Even small amounts of lead can still cause serious health problems. But where does can we get lead aside from it occurs naturally in the environment? People may acquire lead through exposure to lead-based paint, water pipes, imported canned goods where they use lead to seal food cans, pottery, lead bullets, storage batteries, cosmetics, art supplies, toys, in mining areas, burning fossil fuels and even the household dust. Lead poisoning causes a variety of symptoms, including memory problems; joint and muscle pain; high blood pressure; headaches; constipation; nausea and vomiting; weight loss; fatigue; kidney dysfunction; low IQ and behavioural problems which varies from person to person, while time of exposure plays an important role to it.
To refrain from this serious health problems, prevention must be done at your own pace to reduce the risk of lead poisoning. Here are some simple yet very important measures to protect yourself and your family from lead poisoning.
- Wash your hands and toys regularly. To help reduce hand-to-mouth and toy-to-hand/mouth transfer of contaminated dust or soil.
- Clean dusty surfaces (floors, furniture, windowsills and other dusty surfaces) and keep your home well-maintained.
- Remove shoes before entering the house. This will help keep lead-based soil outside.
- Prevent children from playing on soil.
- Test your water for lead. If lead levels are high, use a filtering device or drink bottled water.
- Clean faucets and aerators regularly.
- Use lead-free paint in your home.
- Avoid areas where lead-based paint may have been used.
- Eat healthy diet. Regular meals and good nutrition might help lower lead absorption. Children especially need enough calcium, vitamin C and iron in their diets to help keep lead from being absorbed.
Of all the heavy metal poisoning, lead poisoning appears to be prominent, this is because its use has been very evident. To make sure that your level of lead in the body is not high, you should take a blood test for lead. Lead testing is a key part of a strategy to address lead exposure and to prevent further health problems. Monitoring your lead level should be taken seriously.
ZS DMO II Karla P. Calapardo, RND
References:
- Lead Poisoning and its causes.
https://www.webmd.com/children/what-is-lead-poisoning
- Lead Poisoning: causes, symptoms and prevention.
