What Is Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning occurs when there is a build-up of lead in the body, which can cause serious illness or can even be fatal. some common sources of exposure include ingestion of lead or lead-based paint, or inhalation of lead dust. Since lead poisoning often builds up slowly over time, symptoms can be hard to detect, and may be subtle. Symptoms in children can include attention and learning difficulties, loss of appetite, hearing loss, fatigue, and stomach pain, vomiting, or constipation. Adults may experience similar symptoms, along with headache, memory loss, fertility issues, muscle and joint pain, and high blood pressure.

Treatment for low levels of lead may simply be avoiding further exposure. However, more severe cases of lead poisoning may require medication like a metal chelator that binds to the lead in your body to help remove it.