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Lead Poisoning - Cause

Lead poisoning is caused by swallowing or breathing lead-contaminated substances or by skin contact. Small children may get lead poisoning by licking, chewing, or eating lead paint on toys, jewelry, or woodwork such as windowsills. Small children also may be exposed by breathing, swallowing, or playing in lead-contaminated dust, soil, or smoke.

Although lead poisoning can sometimes result from a single large dose of lead, it usually is caused by months or years of exposure. Because lead cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled, people usually do not know when they are being exposed. Nearly everyone has some lead in his or her body.

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A pregnant woman who is exposed to lead can pass it to her unborn baby.³ Lead can also be passed to a baby through the mother's breast milk.

Before its harmful effects were realized, lead was used in most gasolines, paints, water pipes, food and drink cans, and many other products. For example, house paint made before 1950 often contained as much as 50% lead. Paint manufactured up until 1978 still contained lead.

Environmental regulations have reduced sources of lead pollution, significantly reducing lead in paint, gasoline, plumbing systems, and food and drink cans. For example, in 1988 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of lead solder and other leaded parts to connect plumbing to public water supplies. But lead does not break down, so any lead already present in soil or water will stay there unless it is physically removed.

Common sources of lead are:

Lead-based paint and lead in dust and soil, especially from renovation, remodeling, or repainting of homes and buildings built before 1978.
Drinking water in homes with lead or lead-soldered pipes.

Other sources of lead include:

Jobs, hobbies, or work settings that involve exposure to lead.
Soil that has been contaminated with lead from smelters, hazardous waste, or gasoline.
Polluted air, particularly near lead smelters or other industries that use lead.
Alternative medicines and supplements, such as some herbs and vitamins made outside of the United States.
Cosmetics made outside of the U.S.
Food that is stored in leaded crystal, lead-glazed pottery, or cans made outside of the U.S.
Vegetables grown in soil that contains lead.
Imported toys, crayons, and candies.
Some printing materials, such as ink used in print on plastic bags.
Homemade liquor made in stills built with lead solder.
Some vinyl plastic items, such as mini-blinds manufactured outside the U.S. before 1996.
Some artificial turf used on sports fields.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: June 21, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.