The dangers of Lead

LEAD poisoning has been listed among the world’s most common paediatric problems. As such, parents are warned to vet the products used in their homes, all items they bring into the home, and even the toys that they buy for their children.

Dr Anona Griffith, paediatrician at Gateway Plaza, Old Harbour, warns that this is particularly important because exposure to lead over time can lead to adverse physical and mental developmental challenges, and even death at high levels of exposure.

“Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in the earth. With industrialisation, human exposure to the metal has become common.It is in almost everything from paint to water, and children — including unborn babies — are at highest risk for the devastating effects of lead poisoning,” Dr Griffith advised.

She underscored that because of the documented health effects of lead, lead-based paint has been banned since the 1970s. However, homes built prior to that time pose a risk as they contain lead, and while much has been done to address this issue, many people and children in particular have suffered.

And while strides have been made to alleviate the issue of exposure altogether, in recent times lead poisoning, despite efforts to minimise the effect, has had dire consequences for many people.

In Nigeria and the United States, for example, water sources have become contaminated, causing thousands to become ill.

In Jamaica, the most documented cases of high lead concentration involved children who were enrolled at Kintyre Basic School, as well as families who squatted on the St Andrew lands, previously the site of a mine and lead ore plant.

The issue of smelting battery plants in Spanish Town as well as backyard smelting in Mona Commons, St Andrew, also triggered extensive research as part of a programme to examine the blood lead levels of children islandwide, focusing specifically on lead poisoning and pollution.

“With lead poisoning, generally it is often at very high levels that symptoms appear. The most significant effect is on the nervous system where the damage is irreversible.

However, it is important that you understand that all organ systems are at risk of damage,” Dr Griffith warned.

Among the symptoms and effects of lead poisoning on unborn and small children are: • Premature births

• Smaller than expected babies

• Slow rates of growth

• Anaemia

• Behavioural challenges, including ADHD

• Developmental delay

• Decreased IQ

• Slow learning and learning challenges

• Hearing and speech problems

• Weight loss

• Seizures

• Heart and kidney disease

•Death.

But these severe medical and life-threatening complications can be avoided.

Below Dr Griffith shares how this is possible:

•Prevent exposure by avoiding contact with toys containing lead. If you are unsure of manufacturer and product details, avoid buying them.

•Children are to avoid playing in the soil, especially if you are unsure as to the soil content.

•Encourage children to practise regular hand washing.

• Avoid contact with stripping paint in older houses.

While taking the necessary steps to avoid lead poisoning, there is at least one working method of treatment to manage lead poisoning.

“Some health professionals suggest that you do blood tests at regular intervals if you believe that you live in an area which had high exposure to lead, or if you believe that you or your child have been exposed to lead, so that there can be early intervention. Elevated blood levels of lead can be decreased by a process called chelation (to remove heavy metals from the body); however, this does not reverse the damage previously caused,” Dr Griffith cautioned.

— Penda Honeyghan