Title: Facts about lead and its human effects - King County
Headings: Facts about lead and its human effects
Facts about lead and its human effects
1. There is no safe level of lead
2. Who is most at-risk to illness from lead exposure
3. Sources of lead
4. Who should be tested for lead poisoning
5. What you can do to reduce your risk
6. Public Health's role

Content: Learning disabilities resulting in a decreased intelligence (decreased IQ)
Attention deficit disorder
Behavior issues
Nervous system damage
Speech and language impairment
Decreased muscle growth
Decreased bone growth
Kidney damage
High levels of lead are life threatening and can cause seizures, unconsciousness, and death. Learn more about arsenic and lead in children. Adults
Lead exposure is a concern for adults, even though they have finished growing. Since an adult's body is much larger than a child's body, more lead is needed to cause injury but the harm lead can do to an adult is very serious. High levels of lead can cause: Increased chance of illness during pregnancy
Harm to a fetus, including brain damage or death
Fertility problems in both men and women
High blood pressure
Digestive issues
Nerve disorders
Memory and concentration problems
Muscle and joint pain
2. Who is most at-risk to illness from lead exposure
Children are most at risk for lead injuries because their bodies are still developing and because they tend to put things that may have lead dust on it in their mouths. Here's more: Children are still developing: Until about age 6, young children do not have a fully developed "blood brain barrier."