Lead (/_l_d/) is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin plumbum) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point.Encyclopedia Entry for Lead :Lead - nutritional considerations. Lead is a natural element with thousands of uses. Because it is widespread (and often hidden), lead can easily contaminate food and water without being seen or tasted. In 2014 health organizations estimated that nearly a quarter billion people had toxic (poisonous) blood lead levels.Lead can be found in canned goods if there is lead solder in the cans. Lead may also be found in some containers (metal, glass, and ceramic or glazed clay) and cooking utensils. Old paint poses the greatest danger for lead poisoning, especially in young children. Tap water from lead pipes or pipes with lead solder is also a source of hidden lead.High doses of lead can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and blood system and can even lead to death. Continuous low-level exposure causes lead to accumulate in the body and cause damage. It is particularly dangerous for babies, before and after birth, and for small children, because their bodies and brains are growing rapidly. Many federal agencies study and monitor lead exposure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors lead in food, beverages, food containers, and tableware. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors lead levels in drinking water.To reduce the risk for lead poisoning: Run tap water for a minute before drinking or cooking with it. If your water has tested high in lead, consider installing a filtering device or switching to bottled water for drinking and cooking. Avoid canned goods from foreign countries until the ban on lead soldered cans goes into effect. If imported wine containers have a lead foil wrapper, wipe the rim and neck of the bottle with a towel moistened with lemon juice, vinegar, or wine before using. DO NOT store wine, spirits, or vinegar-based salad dressings in lead crystal decanters for long periods of time, as lead can leach out into the liquid. Other important recommendations: Paint over old leaded paint if it is in good condition, or remove the old paint and repaint with lead-free paint. If the paint needs to be sanded or removed because it is chipping or peeling, get advice on safe removal from the National Lead Information Center (800-LEAD-FYI). Keep your home as dust-free as possible and have everyone wash their hands before eating. Dispose of old painted toys if you do not know whether they have lead-free paint.Lead poisoning - nutritional considerations; Toxic metal - nutritional considerations.Markowitz M. Lead poisoning.Encyclopedia Entry for Lead :Lead and tap water. Water contaminated with lead.Lead testing Lead testing.United States Environmental Protection Agency website. Basic information about lead in drinking water. www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water. Updated August 21, 2017. Accessed October 27, 2017.Encyclopedia Entry for Lead :Lead levels - blood. A blood sample is needed. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin. The blood collects in a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage is put over the spot to stop any bleeding.No special preparation is needed. For children, it may be helpful to explain how the test will feel and why it is done. This may make the child feel less nervous.You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn.This test is used to screen people at risk for lead poisoning. This may include industrial workers and children who live in urban areas. The test is also used to measure how well treatment for lead poisoning is working. Lead is common in the environment, so it is often found in the body in low levels.Small amounts of lead in adults are not thought to be harmful. However, even low levels of lead can be dangerous to infants and children. It can cause lead poisoning that leads to problems in mental development. Adults: Less than 10 micrograms per deciliter ( g/dL) or 0.48 micromoles per liter ( mol/L) of lead in the blood Children: Less than 5 g/dL or 0.24 mol/L of lead in the blood Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.In adults, a blood lead level of 5 ug/dL or 0.24 umol/L or above is considered elevated. Treatment may be recommended if: Your blood lead level is greater than 80 g/dL or 3.86 mol/L You have symptoms of lead poisoning and your blood lead level is greater than 40 g/dL or 1.93 mol/L In children: Blood lead level of 5 g/dL or 0.24 mol/L or greater requires further testing and monitoring. The source of lead must be found and removed. A lead level greater than 45 g/dL or 2.17 mol/L in a child's blood most often indicates the need for treatment. Treatment may be considered with a level as low as 20 g/dL or 0.97 mol/L.Blood lead levels.Blood test Blood test.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Lead: what do parents need to know to protect their children? www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/blood_lead_levels.htm. Updated May 17, 2017. Accessed June 20, 2017. Kao LW, Rusyniak DE. Chronic poisoning: trace metals and others.Encyclopedia Entry for Lead :Lead poisoning. Lead used to be very common in gasoline and house paint in the United States. Children living in cities with older houses are more likely to have high levels of lead. Although gasoline and paint are no longer made with lead in them, lead is still a health problem. Lead is everywhere, including dirt, dust, new toys, and old house paint. Unfortunately, you cannot see, taste, or smell lead. In 2014, health organizations estimated that nearly a quarter billion people worldwide had toxic (poisonous) blood lead levels. Lead is found in: Houses painted before 1978. Even if the paint is not peeling, it can be a problem. Lead paint is very dangerous when it is being stripped or sanded. These actions release fine lead dust into the air. Infants and children living in pre-1960's housing (when paint often contained lead) have the highest risk of lead poisoning. Small children often swallow paint chips or dust from lead-based paint. Toys and furniture painted before 1976. Painted toys and decorations made outside the United States Lead bullets, fishing sinkers, curtain weights. Plumbing, pipes, and faucets. Lead can be found in drinking water in homes containing pipes that were connected with lead solder. Although new building codes require lead-free solder, lead is still found in some modern faucets. Soil contaminated by decades of car exhaust or years of house paint scrapings. Lead is more common in soil near highways and houses. Hobbies involving soldering, stained glass, jewelry making, pottery glazing, and miniature lead figures (always look at labels). Children's paint sets and art supplies (always look at labels). Pewter, some glass, ceramic or glazed clay pitchers and dinnerware. Lead-acid batteries, such as ones used in car engines. Children get lead in their bodies when they put lead objects in their mouths, especially if they swallow those objects. They can also get lead poison on their fingers from touching a dusty or peeling lead object, and then putting their fingers in their mouths or eating food afterward. Children also can breathe in tiny amounts of lead.There are many possible symptoms of lead poisoning. Lead can affect many different parts of the body. A single high dose of lead can cause severe emergency symptoms. However, it is more common for lead poisoning to build up slowly over time. This occurs from repeated exposure to small amounts of lead. In this case, there may not be any obvious symptoms. Over time, even low levels of lead exposure can harm a child's mental development. The health problems get worse as the level of lead in the blood gets higher. Lead is much more harmful to children than adults because it can affect children's developing nerves and brains. The younger the child, the more harmful lead can be. Unborn children are the most vulnerable. Possible complications include: Behavior or attention problems Failure at school Hearing problems Kidney damage Reduced IQ Slowed body growth The symptoms of lead poisoning may include: Abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison) Aggressive behavior Anemia Constipation Difficulty getting pregnant Difficulty sleeping Headaches Hearing loss Irritability Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children) Low appetite and energy Reduced sensations Very high levels of lead may cause vomiting, staggering walk, muscle weakness, seizures , or coma.You can reduce exposure to lead with the following steps: If you suspect you may have lead paint in your house, get advice on safe removal from the National Lead Information Center -- www.epa.gov/lead at (800) 424-5323. Keep your home as dust-free as possible. Have everyone wash their hands before eating. Throw out old painted toys if you do not know whether the paint contains lead. Let tap water run for a minute before drinking or cooking with it. If your water has tested high in lead, consider installing an effective filtering device or switch to bottled water for drinking and cooking. Avoid canned goods from foreign countries until the ban on lead soldered cans goes into effect. If imported wine containers have a lead foil wrapper, wipe the rim and neck of the bottle with a towel moistened with lemon juice, vinegar, or wine before using. DO NOT store wine, spirits, or vinegar-based salad dressings in lead crystal decanters for long periods of time, because lead can get into the liquid.Provide the following information to emergency assistance: The person's age, weight, and condition The name of the product or the object you think had lead in it The date/time the lead was swallowed or inhaled The amount swallowed or inhaled However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available.If someone has severe symptoms from possible lead exposure (such as vomiting or seizures) call 911 immediately. For other symptoms that you think may be caused by lead poisoning, call your local poison control center. Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Except in severe cases where someone has been exposed to a high dose of lead, a trip to the emergency room is not necessary. Contact your health care provider or department of public health if you suspect possible low-level lead exposure. A blood lead test can help identify whether a problem exists. Over 10 mcg/dL (0.48 mol/L) is a definite concern. Levels between 2 and 10 mcg/dL (0.10 and 0.48 mol/L) should be discussed with your doctor. In many states, blood screening is recommended for young children at risk. Other lab tests may include: Bone marrow biopsy Complete blood count ( CBC ) and coagulation studies Erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels Iron level X-ray of the long bones and abdomen For children whose blood levels of lead are moderately high, identify all major sources of lead exposure and keep the child away from them. Follow-up blood testing may be needed. Chelation therapy is a procedure that can remove high levels of lead that have built up in a person's body over time. In cases where someone has potentially eaten a high toxic dose of lead in a short period of time, the following treatments might be done: Bowel irrigation (flushing out) with polyethylene glycol solution Gastric lavage (washing out the stomach).Adults who have had mildly high lead levels often recover without problems. In children, even mild lead poisoning can have a permanent impact on attention and IQ. People with higher lead levels have a greater risk of long-lasting health problems. They must be followed carefully. Their nerves and muscles can be greatly affected and may no longer function as well as they should. Other body systems may be harmed to various degrees, such as the kidneys and blood vessels. People who survive toxic lead levels may have some permanent brain damage. Children are more vulnerable to serious long-term problems. A complete recovery from chronic lead poisoning may take months to years.Plumbism.Markowitz M. Lead poisoning.Encyclopedia Entry for Lead :Lead Powder.Latin name: ceruse.Pinyin name: QIAN FEN.Properties: Minor cold,Pungent.Effect(s): 1. Treatment of scabies, pustulosis, unhealed lesion, burn, etc., usually mixed with honey for external use. 2. Treatment of malaria, used together with Herba Artemisiae Annuae or Radix Dichroae.Meridians: Liver,Cardiovascular.Encyclopedia Entry for Lead :Lead-coloured Brake.Latin name: Pteris plumbea.Pinyin name: LI BING FENG WEI JUE.Effect(s): To clear heat and disinhibit damp, quicken blood and stanch bleeding.Plant part: whole herb.