Lead is a highly poisonous metal that can be found in some plumbing and paint used on old houses and old toys. Adults and children can experience lead poisoning, but it is more common in younger children. Lead poisoning in children is one of the most preventable environmental poisonings. Learn more about lead poisoning and how to prevent it from happening to you or your family.
How do you get lead poisoning?
Children can get lead poisoning by eating or breathing in dust from lead-based paint. Lead-based paint can be on old house walls, old toys, furniture, and even certain hobby materials. Another source of lead poisoning is tap water, which is more common in older homes, when lead pipes were used. Lead poisoning from tap water can affect both children and adults.
Two important dates can help you determine your risk for lead exposure in your home. In 1978, the United States government banned the use of lead-based paint in residential homes and on children’s toys, meaning any home or toy manufactured before this year may still contain lead paint. In 1986, the Safe Drinking Water Act was amended to prohibit the use of lead pipes, solder, and fixtures in new plumbing installations, meaning older homes built before this year are more likely to have lead plumbing that can leach into tap water. If your home predates either of these years, it is worth having both your paint and your water tested for lead.
Where is lead poisoning most common?
Lead exposure is most common in older homes and in low-income areas, where aging infrastructure is less likely to have been updated or remediated. Families living in these homes are at the greatest risk, particularly young children who may come into contact with deteriorating paint or contaminated tap water.
While it’s possible for any older home in the United States to have lead, the most common areas for it are in the Midwest and Northeast. This is due to the higher number of homes built before the lead product restrictions.
How do I know if my house pipes are exposing my family and me to lead?
A magnet will not adhere to lead, so this can be one way to determine if your pipe is a lead pipe. Hardware stores offer at-home water tests that look for levels of lead in your tap. You can also check the color and texture of your pipes— lead pipes are typically dull gray and will scratch easily to reveal a shiny silver surface beneath. Testing done by a certified laboratory is the most accurate way to determine the lead risk in your home.
If you are concerned that your house’s water main or plumbing may be exposing you to lead, it’s best to contact your water utility company or a licensed plumber. A professional can determine if any water lines have lead pipes and if so, what the next steps are.
Can I get lead poisoning if my shower has lead pipes?
No, you cannot get lead poisoning from bathing in water that contains lead. This is true even if there is more lead than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends in the bathwater. The reason is that lead is not absorbed through the skin. So, washing in a shower or bath that has water from a lead pipe should be safe for you and your children. However, if you happen to drink the water as you’re showering, this may lead to a lead exposure.
Is the stuff in pencils real lead?
No, pencil lead is not poisonous and is not made out of lead at all. Pencil lead is made from a soft mineral called graphite that is bound together with wax and clay. You can read more about pencil graphite in our blog here. Some architectural or older refillable pencils may contain lead, if you are unsure call 1-800-222-1222 for further assistance.
Long Term Effects of Lead on Children
The first five years of a child’s life is an important time where their brains develop more than any other time in their life. If a child is exposed to lead in early childhood when their brain is still developing, the result can be intellectual damage including:
- Growth delays
- Short and long term learning disabilities
- Problems with hearing
- Low IQ
- Behavior problems
Lead Poisoning Symptoms
Signs of lead poisoning vary depending on the person’s age and the amount of lead in their system. It is more common in children, but exposures happen to adults too. Symptoms of too much lead are often hard to detect, and do not usually appear until the lead level is moderately elevated in a person’s blood.
Symptoms of lead poisoning for adults and children both include:
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain and or cramps
- Constipation
- Sleep problems
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Aggressive behavior
- Loss of appetite
- High blood pressure
- Numbness or tingling in the extremities
- Anemia
- Kidney dysfunction
- Memory loss
Signs of Severe Lead Poisoning That Need Emergency Care
If someone is exposed to a toxic amount of lead and is showing any of these symptoms seek emergency care right away.
- Seizures
- Muscle weakness
- Stumbling while walking
- Vomiting
- Severe abdominal cramping and pain
- Coma
- Confusion
Can your body get rid of lead?
Yes, the body naturally gets rid of lead that has entered your body, but it is a slow process occurring over many months. Lead that has settled into bones requires medical treatment and can take years or even decades to fully leave the body on its own.
However, there is treatment for lead poisoning called chelation therapy which helps remove lead. It is a medical treatment used for moderate to severe cases of lead poisoning. It works by introducing a chelating agent that binds to the lead in the bloodstream, allowing it to be flushed out through the kidneys. Chelation is typically only recommended when blood lead levels reach a certain threshold, as the treatment itself carries risks and side effects,
The damage that lead leaves on the body may not be fully reversed, despite chelation. Therefore, it is important to determine the source of lead poisoning and reduce or eliminate contact with it for the greatest benefit and recovery.
Think You Were Exposed? Contact the Missouri Poison Center!
If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have been exposed to lead, call 1-800-222-1222 now. The Missouri Poison Center answers callers’ questions about poisonings every day of the year 24/7. It’s free and confidential, so don’t wait, call now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Because the symptoms of lead poisoning — such as fatigue, headaches, and irritability — overlap with many other common conditions, it may be misdiagnosed or overlooked. The only way to confirm lead poisoning is through a blood lead level test ordered by your healthcare provider. If you suspect exposure, ask your provider specifically for a lead blood test.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there is no safe or non-toxic blood lead level. A reference level o f 3.5 mcg/dL is used to further evaluate and determine a source of exposure. Discuss all concerns with your healthcare provider.
Yes, lead can enter the food supply in several ways. Vegetables grown in lead-contaminated soil can absorb it through their roots, and food stored or cooked in certain imported ceramics or glazed pottery may also be a source. Some spices imported from other countries have also been found to contain elevated levels of lead, making it worth sourcing food from reputable suppliers.
Yes. Lead stored in a mother’s bones can be released into the bloodstream during pregnancy and passed to the developing fetus through the placenta. Prenatal lead exposure has been linked to premature birth, low birth weight, and developmental issues. Pregnant women who live in older homes or have a history of lead exposure should speak with their healthcare provider about getting a blood lead test.
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Suggested APA citation:
Missouri Poison Center Trending Topics Blog. (2022, January 06). Lead Poisoning: Toxicity, Symptoms, and Overdose Treatments. Missouri Poison Center. https://missouripoisoncenter.org/lead-poisoning-toxicity-symptoms-overdose-treatments/