Lead is a naturally occurring mineral that used to be used in the construction of houses. It could be found in the lead-based paint of a home, or in pipes made of lead. Lead was eventually found to be extremely dangerous when ingested or breathed in. It is particularly dangerous to young children, who tend to make up the majority of those exposed to lead. Young children in houses painted with lead paint commonly pick at the paint and eat the chips, leading to devastating health effects. Living in a home with lead pipes can also lead to contamination. The lead in the pipes eventually erodes into the water, leading to anyone consuming that water to contracting lead poisoning.
Lead is stored in bones, blood, and tissues. This leads to a continuous release of lead into the blood and into the body while contaminated bones eventually break apart. When the bones naturally start to deteriorate, the lead that is stored in them is rereleased into the bloodstream, causing even more health problems.
When someone is exposed to high levels of lead, or even short levels of lead over a long period of time, they will develop what is called lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is extremely dangerous. Some of the symptoms of lead poisoning include abdominal pain, constipation, exhaustion, frequent headaches, irritability, loss of appetite, memory loss, pain in the hands and feet, and general weakness. As lead exposure continues, the symptoms get worse and worse, leading to organ and brain damage. Anemia, kidney damage, and brain damage will occur. As lead exposure continues, the person will eventually die.
As you can see, lead poisoning is extremely dangerous, eventually leading to death. This is why it is imperative to have your home tested for lead contamination if you suspect lead may have been used in the construction of your home. If lead is found in your home, you must contact a lead abatement provider to remove the dangerous mineral from your home.
