Lead Poisoning Accident Injuries
The worst tragedy is that of children who suffer lead poisoning. The primary hazard posed by lead is through exposure to lead-based paint, often found in older homes and apartment buildings. Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the sale of lead-based paint in 1978, there are still millions of these older homes, commercial and industrial buildings still being inhabited that contain lead-based paint. There are even some consumer products that contain dangerously unsafe levels of lead-based paint.
Lead Poisoning Effects
Children, because they are smaller and have less-developed immune systems, are the primary victims of lead poisoning and lead-based paint. But lead also affects many other segments of the population. Pregnant women who are exposed to lead can pass it on to their fetuses, thus causing severe birth defects. Because of its prevalence in old manufacturing facilities, lead also affects millions of industrial and commercial workers. It is estimated that more than 1 million U.S. workers are regularly exposed to lead in industries like painting, construction, metal smelting, battery plants, auto repair and plumbing. These workers can easily bring the lead dust home and contaminate their families as well.
Individuals can also be exposed to lead through the natural environment. As lead is not biodegradable, and does not dissolve in water or otherwise dissipate, lead can remain in the soil for decades, thus exposing people to lead through soil and groundwater.
Lead Poisoning Symptoms
The principal symptoms include nausea, headaches, constipation, seizures, and comas. Exposure to lead has been shown to cause brain and kidney damage, especially in children. Children can suffer from permanent learning disabilities, developmental issues and behavioral disorders. Adults with lead poisoning can suffer high blood pressure, abdominal discomfort, infertility, tremors, muscle and joint pain, and damage to the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and the nervous system. Severe lead poisoning can cause death.
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