Lead is a common metal found naturally in the earth. The ancient Egyptians used lead in cosmetics and the ancient Romans used it to transport drinking water.
Today lead is used in many products including batteries, solder, paint, fishing weights, pottery glaze, and ammunition. Lead has also been added to gasoline to reduce engine knocking. However, in the United States and much of Europe, only "lead-free" gasoline is now available. Where Is Lead Found? Paint: in the United States, paint with lead was used in many houses built before Lead helps paint last longer and stick better to surfaces. After , paint with added lead was banned for use on the inside and outside of houses.
Paint dust and chips from older homes may contain lead and could be inhaled or eaten accidentally. Small children are especially at risk because they may not wash their hands before they put them in their mouths. Drinking water: lead is found in many plumbing pipes and fittings and in solder used in older water systems. People may drink water contaminated by lead that has leached into the water supply. The Safe Drinking Water Act passed by the US Congress in put restrictions on the use of lead-containing materials for delivering drinking water.
Canned food: lead solder was used to seal canned foods in the United States until Lead solder may still be used in other countries and may contaminate canned goods imported into the United States. The scope of the rehabilitation necessary in these situations is vast. Comprehensive neuropsychological testing and cognitive rehabilitation are essential in the treatment of lead poisoning.
Rehabilitation approaches can include metacognitive strategy training, development of problem-solving strategies, and general help with executive functioning skills. As with many other types of brain injury, the ability to cope with stress and to keep emotions at appropriate levels requires a lot of effort. This is a disease that will require lifelong support, and the role of the caregiver is perhaps the most crucial.
Persistent cognitive deficits can sometimes be more disabling than the physical complications of lead poisoning and may require more assistance and monitoring on the part of the caregiver.
Some people who experience behavioral problems associated with lead poisoning will not receive the professional rehabilitation and resources they need. As a result, their caregivers will need to act as medical advocates, offer emotional support, and provide help managing their executive functioning deficits. Like other brain injuries, lead poisoning is a condition with long-lasting effects.
Those who are exposed to the toxin early in life will need adequate resources and consistent support to help them cope with the various neurological deficits they will incur as they age. Since lead exposure cannot always be avoided, regular testing is the safest way to ensure early detection and effective management.
Increasing awareness of the effects of exposure will also equip those affected with the knowledge required to find the care they need. This silent toxin poses a significant threat to the health of our children, and it is our collective responsibility educate ourselves about this issue. Skip to Content All News. May 3, Is it really that bad? The major source of paint-related exposure in the home is not eating paint chips. It is the ingestion of very fine dust that accumulates in and from window sills.
This distinction matters very much as it invites more actionable remedies—to a more insidious mechanism. Your email address will not be published.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. How does lead enter and affect the brain? Figure 1: Lead alters neurotransmitter release. When lead blocks calcium entry into the neuron, the neuron releases less neurotransmitter and sends a weaker signal to the next neuron.
Lead can also cause aberrant neurotransmitter release when calcium is not present. Lead is associated with decreased brain volume Humans are most vulnerable to lead before birth and early childhood, because the brain and other systems are growing and developing rapidly.
Figure 2: Lead exposure is associated with decreased brain volume. Red and yellow areas indicate regions of volume loss. The first row of images shows prefrontal cortex volume loss. Figure from Cecil et al. Lead increases the risk of heart disease Lead also affects other parts of the body, notably the cardiovascular system.
Figure 3: By mimicking calcium and increasing cell stress, lead causes vessels to constrict, limiting the space for blood to flow compare the size of the red circles. Childhood lead poisoning: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis.
Accessed Sept. Lead: Prevention tips. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chelation therapy. Rochester, Minn. Lowry JA. Childhood lead poisoning: Management. Prevention of childhood lead toxicity. Lead poisoning and health. World Health Organization. Lead toxicity: What are the physiologic effects of lead exposure?
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
0コメント