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excerpt from "lead" by national institute of environmental health sciences

what is lead?

lead is a naturally occurring metal found deep within the ground. it occurs in small amounts in ore, along with other elements such as silver, zinc or copper. even though it's found in small amounts, there is an abundant supply of lead throughout the earth. because it is widespread, easy to extract and easy to work with, lead has been used in a wide variety of products including:

paint
ceramics
pipes
solders
gasoline
batteries
cosmetics
where is lead found now?

lead can still be found in lead-based paint used in older homes, contaminated soil, household dust, drinking water pumped through leaded pipes, lead crystal, lead-glazed pottery, airplane fuel, some toys, and some inexpensive metal jewelry. until 1978, lead paint was commonly used on the interior and exterior of homes. deteriorated lead paint in older housing remains the most common source of lead exposure for children in the united states.

how does lead get into the body?

lead can get into your body in two ways — through breathing it in or by eating it. for example, lead can enter the body through eating or inhaling paint dust or chips. the soil around your home can pick up lead from sources such as exterior paint. lead can also enter your drinking water through your plumbing.

how much lead is harmful?

no amount of lead is safe. eliminating all lead exposure in our environment is our best course of action.

what are the effects of lead in children?

exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child’s development and behavior. blood lead levels less than 10 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dl) are associated with increased behavioral effects, delayed puberty, and decreases in hearing, cognitive performance, and postnatal growth or height. some of these health effects are found even at low blood lead levels less than 5 μg/dl, including lower iq scores, decreased academic achievement, and increases in both behavioral problems and attention-related behaviors. there is a wide range of lead-associated behavioral effects in the area of attention. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd) is one example on the more severe end of the spectrum.

what are the health effects of lead in adults?

lead exposure has been linked to a number of health effects in adults. as a general rule, the more lead you have in your body, the more likely it is you’ll have health problems. high blood lead levels greater than 15 μg/dl are associated with cardiovascular effects, nerve disorders, decreased kidney function, and fertility

blood lead levels below10 μg/dl are associated with decreased kidney function and increases in blood pressure, hypertension, and incidence of essential tremor, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system whose most recognizable feature is a tremor of the arms or hands during voluntary movements, such as eating and writing. there is also evidence showing that adults who have low levels of exposure to lead less than 5 μg/dl may have decreased kidney function. pregnant women need to be particularly careful around lead. maternal blood lead levels less than 5 μg/dl are associated with reduced fetal growth. because the effects of lead are different for everyone, more research needs to be done to fully understand the health effects.

a 2004 study, supported by niehs, also showed that lifetime lead exposure may increase the risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the eye lens resulting in partial loss of vision, which can be common in older people.

most adults with elevated blood lead levels are exposed to lead at work. those in occupations related to mining, ironwork or welding, construction, renovation and remodeling activities, smelters, firing ranges, the manufacture and disposal of car batteries, automobile radiator repair, metal shop work, and the manufacture of pottery or stained glass are particularly at risk for lead exposure.

which sentence from the article best supports the idea that lead can negatively affect one's health in a variety of ways?

"blood lead levels less than 10 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dl) are associated with increased behavioral effects, delayed puberty, and decreases in hearing, cognitive performance, and postnatal growth or height."

"those in occupations related to mining, ironwork or welding, construction, renovation and remodeling activities, smelters, firing ranges, the manufacture and disposal of car batteries, automobile radiator repair, metal shop work, and the manufacture of pottery or stained glass are particularly at risk for lead exposure."

"lead can also enter your drinking water through your plumbing."

"lead can get into your body in two ways—through breathing it in or by eating it."