Lead exposure and your health

Lead is a naturally occurring metal#

Lead is used in industry and, in the past, was added to petrol and household paints. It is not needed for human health and can be hazardous when it enters the body by swallowing or breathing in lead, or materials contaminated with lead. Once in the body, lead circulates in the blood and can be stored in the bones.

The health effects of lead depend on several factors, such as a person’s age, how much lead they are exposed to and for how long, and whether they have other health conditions.

Who is most at risk#

Young children, including unborn babies, are at greatest risk from lead exposure. Children are most often exposed by swallowing items or soil containing lead, or by breathing in lead-containing dust. Adults are most often exposed through work that involves lead-based activities.

Children under five years of age are especially vulnerable because:

• their developing brains are more sensitive to the effects of lead
• they frequently put their hands and objects in their mouths
• they absorb and retain more lead from the gut and airways than adults do

Children with pica – a behaviour that leads to eating non-food substances such as paint flakes, soil or small objects – are at increased risk, as are children present during home redecorating or renovating, when they may pick up or swallow paint chips or dust.

Unborn babies are also at risk, because lead swallowed by a pregnant woman passes readily through the placenta.

Common sources of lead exposure#

One of the most common sources of lead exposure is work involving lead compounds. Workers can also bring lead residues home on their clothes, skin, hair and equipment. Other sources can include:

• Lead paint – used in many older homes. Flaking or peeling paint, or renovation work, can create dust or paint chips containing lead, which can be inhaled by adults or inhaled or eaten by children. Lead is still used in some paints and surface finishes for cars and boats.
• Hobbies involving lead – such as home renovation, restoring old cars or furniture, lead-lighting, pottery using lead glazes, and making or handling lead fishing sinkers.
• Polluted air – copper and lead smelters, vehicle battery works, iron and steel production, and soldering using lead can release small amounts of lead into the air.
• Soil – industrial and mining activities can leave high lead levels in soil. In areas with a history of heavy traffic, roadside soil may still contain lead deposited from petrol fumes before lead was removed from fuel.
• Household dust – may contain lead from deteriorating paint, contaminated soil or dust brought into the home.
• Drinking water – the solder or fittings of some older pipes may contain lead, which can dissolve into water that has been sitting in the pipes.
• Some traditional medicines and cosmetics – certain imported remedies and cosmetics, including some eyeliners, have been found to contain high levels of lead.
• Old or imported toys – very old or second-hand painted items, including old cots, may contain unsafe levels of lead in the paintwork.
• Food contamination – food stored in pewter, lead crystal glassware or pottery with lead-based glazing, or in some cans with irregularly soldered side seams, can become contaminated.
• Other items – eating animals hunted with lead shot can cause exposure, and metal objects such as jewellery, old coins, medals and curtain weights may contain lead.

In areas with a history of leaded petrol, lead from past traffic fumes may still be present in roadside soil even though leaded petrol has been phased out.

Health effects of lead#

Lead exposure can permanently damage the brain and impair intellectual and physical development. This can contribute to behavioural problems, learning difficulties, poor school performance and poor bone development.

Common symptoms of chronic (long-term or ongoing) lead exposure can include:

• muscle pains, fatigue and lack of energy
• abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
• headache and irritability
• loss of appetite
• tremor or weakness in the hands and fingers
• memory loss and difficulty concentrating
• poor coordination
• high blood pressure and heart disease, and kidney disease
• lowered fertility

Acute lead poisoning is usually caused by recent exposure to very large amounts of lead. It can cause seizures, coma, encephalopathy and, in rare cases, even death.

Getting tested#

If you think you or a family member has been exposed to lead, see your doctor for advice. They may recommend a blood test to measure the amount of lead in your blood and to help determine whether you have been exposed.

If a blood lead level is above a defined threshold, the source of exposure should be investigated and reduced, particularly for a child or a pregnant woman. Your doctor or paediatrician can advise you about avoiding exposure and may recommend monitoring blood lead levels to assess how well any action is working.

If blood lead levels are extremely high, your doctor may recommend a treatment known as chelation therapy to rapidly reduce the amount of lead in the body.

Preventing exposure to lead#

If you may be exposed to lead at home or work, you can reduce the risk by:

• following appropriate safety regulations and practices at work and home if your job or hobby involves lead, including using proper personal protective equipment and washing your hands with hot soapy water before eating or smoking
• not bringing lead-contaminated clothing home to wash with the household laundry
• taking care when redecorating or renovating to limit lead dust and avoid disturbing old paint surfaces – pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under five should not be present in work areas during renovation
• seeking professional advice if you are unsure whether your home contains lead paint, and considering a professional contractor for repairs to homes likely to contain lead-based paint
• ensuring children cannot reach peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint, such as old toys, window sills and old furniture (including cots)
• discouraging children from playing in or eating dirt and from putting dirty fingers or toys in their mouths
• cleaning the home regularly to prevent a build-up of dust or paint chips, using wet cleaning methods on floors, ledges, window sills and other flat surfaces to minimise lead dust in the air
• washing toys and dummies frequently, and washing children’s hands and faces before they eat or nap
• consulting your water supplier or local environmental health officer if you suspect your drinking water may contain lead
• avoiding storing food or drink in pewter, lead crystal or glazed pottery containers

Key points#

• Young children, including unborn babies, are at greatest risk of the health effects of lead exposure.
• A common source of lead exposure is work involving the use of lead compounds.
• Some old or imported toys and second-hand painted items can present a risk.
• Unborn babies are at risk because lead swallowed by a pregnant woman passes readily through the placenta.
• Acute lead poisoning is usually caused by recent exposure to very large amounts of lead.

Where to get help#