What Causes Lead Poisoning?
Lead poisoning is a very specific medical condition that is only caused by an elevated level of lead inside the body. Lead does not exist naturally in human beings however. It must be introduced by an outside source.
Unfortunately, many of these sources are man made. One very common source of lead poisoning is lead based paint. Lead based paint is very common in homes and buildings that were built before the 60’s.
When the paint in these buildings chips, it can release a large amount of lead into the air. Residents and others inside these buildings may inhale this lead and become poisoned. Children also sometimes become lead poisoned after placing lead paint chips into their mouths.
What Are Common Lead Poisoning Symptoms?
Lead poisoning has many serious symptoms. Some may appear immediately after a large intake of lead into the body. These symptoms may appear directly after a person has inhaled or ingested a large amount of lead. However, other symptoms may appear more slowly as chronic and very serious ongoing phenomena.
Symptoms that may appear directly after a large intake of lead into the body can include things like severe stomach pain, weakness of the muscles, regurgitation, and seizures. A person that has consumed a toxic amount of lead may also immediately go into a coma.
Unfortunately, for other people who have been poisoned by lead, their symptoms may appear much more gradually. Such symptoms can include extreme moodiness, the inability to sleep, severe headaches, loss of appetite, lack of energy, and loss of sensation in different parts of the body.
If a person experiences these symptoms, that person should seek medical assistance immediately. Thankfully, the presence of heightened levels of lead in the body can be easily detected. All that is requires is a simple blood test.
What Are the Risks to Children?
There are also many serious dangers for children that are exposed to lead. One such danger is developmental problems. During most of childhood, a child’s nervous system and brain are not yet finished developing. A sudden lead poisoning can severely inhibit this healthy development.
Due to this fact, children can develop some rather severe side-effects after being exposed to toxic amounts of lead. Such side effects can include stunted growth, a loss of hearing, reduced intelligence, attention disorders, and kidney failure.
Contact an experienced lead poisoning attorney for additional information.
Goldberg & Osborne, a personal injury law firm, has provided this article for informational purposes only, written by an independent author, and has not reviewed or edited this article and is not responsible for its content or accuracy.
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