How does lead enter the body and cause poisoning?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Huynh Kim Long - Emergency Resuscitation Doctor - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital. Dr. Huynh Kim Long has extensive experience in the treatment of Resuscitation - Emergency and Acute Stroke in adults.

1. What is lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning is a form of metal poisoning caused by exposure to lead through occupational and environmental sources. In the early stages of the disease, patients will have some symptoms such as headache, restlessness, decreased concentration, prolonged difficulty sleeping, nausea that occurs at night or early in the morning. Some other symptoms may also occur such as diarrhea, constipation, muscle pain, decreased libido. In the toxic phase, the symptoms will become more acute and severe.
Lead poisoning has 2 types of organic lead poisoning and inorganic lead poisoning. Organic lead poisoning is often caused by exposure to leaded gasoline. Inorganic lead poisoning is quite common, often encountered in production as well as in daily life.

2. How does lead get into the body?

2.1. Through inhalation The patient breathes in dust, air, smoke, lead vapors. Children are more susceptible to toxicity because of the larger airway contact area and inhalation volume per unit weight of the child. In addition, the rate of lead deposition in the lungs of children is 2.7 times higher than that of adults. 2.2. Through the digestive tract Lead poisoning through eating, due to unhygienic hands brought to the mouth. Children suck and suck on lead-containing objects. Children absorb lead in food up to 40-50% but adults absorb only 10-15%. If the patient has a poor diet, the absorption of lead from the gastrointestinal tract will increase. 2.3. Through the skin Lead oxide used in illicit drugs can be readily absorbed through the skin. The ratio of skin area per unit weight of children is also larger than that of adults, so the ability to absorb toxins is also more. 2.4. Crossing the placenta, breast milk Lead can be toxic to the fetus through the placenta. The lead concentration in the baby's blood is about 80% of the lead in the mother's blood. In addition, lead can be toxic to infants through breast milk, but information on this route is incomplete.

3. How does lead cause poisoning?

3.1. For the nervous system Lead causes cell damage, nerve cell death, and central nervous system stimulation. Lead causes nerve damage and degeneration. 3.2.For blood Lead inhibits red blood cell synthesis, shortening the life of red blood cells, thus causing anemia. 3.3. For the kidneys Lead damages the kidneys Reduces the excretion of uric acid in the urine, causing increased uric acid and gout. 3.4. For cardiovascular disease Lead causes an increase in blood pressure by increasing the contractility of the vessel wall. 3.5.For fertility Lead reduces fertility in both men and women. Decreased endocrine function of the testicles. Decrease in sperm count, change in sperm morphology and motility. Lead is toxic to eggs. 3.6. For the fetus, Lead poisoning puts the fetus at risk of growth retardation. Lead also increases the rate of premature birth, miscarriage, growth retardation, increased rate of malformations: hemangioma, lymphoma, cleft palate... Lead poisoning causes early deterioration in neuropsychiatric status after birth. .

3.7. For endocrine function Decreased thyroid function, pituitary-adrenal endocrine function In children: there is a phenomenon of decreased hormone secretion 3.8. For bones Reduces new bone formation and imbalance of bone cells. Reduced bone growth leads to reduced height in children with lead poisoning. 3.9. For digestion Causes abdominal pain due to intestinal spasms.
Lead poisoning causes many long-term health effects. WHO identifies lead as one of ten chemicals of concern to protect public health. In developed countries, lead poisoning in children is of particular concern because children are vulnerable (children absorb 4-5 times more lead than adults from the same emission source). ).
In our country today, lead poisoning is still happening because people use orange medicine for young children and the production and repair of batteries is not safe. It is necessary to take measures to prevent lead poisoning such as not using drugs of unknown origin, minimizing the amount of lead mixed in gasoline, having regular check-ups to measure urinary lead, and regularly checking lead levels in the workplace. If there are first symptoms or clinical manifestations of lead poisoning, it is necessary to promptly carry out biological tests to detect the disease early and treat it, to avoid complications for the patient.
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