Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a DoctorFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Lead Poisoning GuideHow Lead Poisoning Is Diagnosed
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Lead Poisoning Guide
Most people with lead poisoning don’t present any symptoms at all, resulting in the vast majority of cases going undiagnosed. It’s not until a dangerous amount of lead has built up in the body that many of the signs and symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and pain begin to appear. Learn what to look for.
Becauselead poisoningbuilds up over time, symptoms are often not as immediate or as recognizable as you would get with an infectious disease like a cold or the flu.
How quickly they appear—if they appear at all—and how obvious they are when they do will depend on the person, and many of the symptoms are often mistakenly attributed to other things, making them easy to overlook or dismiss.
That being said, there are a few things that could indicate a person has lead poisoning. These include:
It’s important to note that exposure to even low amounts of lead can affect how a person thinks, learns, and grows. For that reason, there is no level of lead that is considered to be safe—especially for young children.
Many of these symptoms are also general and can be caused for various reasons, which is why it’s important to visit a healthcare provider if you notice any changes. in most cases, it’s likely nothing serious, but still important to get checked out.
The more lead a person is exposed to, and the more time they are exposed to it, the greater the severity of the symptoms.In rare cases, individuals can develop a purplish discoloration along the gums, commonly referred to as “lead lines,” after prolonged exposure to large amounts of lead.
Other symptoms that can be seen after moderate or high doses of lead include:
Lead exposure over a long period of time can significantly—and sometimes irreparably—affect different systems in the human body, including the nervous, circulatory, and reproductive systems, as well as the bones and kidneys. This may result in potentially serious issues, such as:
Certain groups are also more susceptible than others to the effects of lead poisoning, most notably young children and pregnant women.
This is why prevention is so important, as well as diagnosisfor proper treatment.
Children Under Age 6
Children are of particular concern for lead poisoning because their brains are still developing. Too much exposure to lead during early childhood can cause development issues, including damage to their developing nervous systems, intelligence, and behavior.
This can lead to challenges at school, growth delays, and behavioral issues. Research has shown that kids with a blood lead level of 5 µg/dL (five micrograms per deciliter) had an IQ roughly 6 points lower than their peers on average.
Pregnant People
If a pregnant person is exposed to lead, it can cross the placental barrier and potentially cause damage to the fetus.
In some cases, it can also lead to miscarriages or stillbirths.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Any delay in treatment could lead to severe and lifelong health issues, especially in young children.
Because most cases of lead poisoning don’t have any symptoms, don’t wait until they appear to talk to your practitioner if you suspect lead poisoning or even exposure to lead.
The healthcare provider will likely ask questions about sources of lead in your home, school, or workplace. Common sources of lead exposure include lead paint in homes built before 1978, some water pipes, toys, jewelry, traditional home remedies, and jobs and hobbies where lead-based products are used.
They will check for physical signs of lead poisoning, includingrunning a blood test. When speaking with your healthcare provider, be sure to mention any cognitive or behavioral changes you’ve noticed, including difficulties focusing or being more irritable than normal.
Because of their smaller size, children are more likely to develop symptoms sooner and show more profound neurological signs, such as irritability, learning difficulties, sluggishness, clumsiness, hearing loss, andpica(eating non-food substances like dirt or paint chips). Developmental delays and seizures are also possible.
Yes. Lead poisoning during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. It can slow growth and weight gain in newborns and may cause damage to the child’s brain, kidneys, and nervous system. Conversely, lead poisoning can lower the sperm count and make it difficult to conceive.
Even low levels of exposure can lead to kidney damage andhypertensionand contribute to the onset ofcoronary artery disease.Exposure during childhood or pregnancy is linked to learning disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and antisocial behaviors. In adults, chronic lead exposure is linked to psychiatric problems and a decline in cognitive function.
Withchelation therapy(using agents that bind to lead and remove it from the body in urine), the effects of lead poisoning on the kidneys and blood may be reversed. However, damage to thebrain and nervous systemmay be irreversible.
Yes. Lead exposure worldwide is believed to cause over 500,000 deaths annually, mostly in the developing world.At high levels of exposure, lead poisoning can causeencephalitis(brain inflammation), leading to seizures, coma, and death fromcardiorespiratory arrest.Chronic lead poisoning is associated with a reduced life expectancy, mainly due to heart disease.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About childhood lead poisoning prevention.American Academy of Pediatrics.Lead exposure & children: FAQ for families.World Health Organization.Lead poisoning and health.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.Symptoms of lead exposure.Council on Environmental Health.Prevention of childhood lead toxicity.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1493Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding your risk for lead exposure.Wani AL, Ara A, Usmani JA.Lead toxicity: A review.Interdiscipl Toxicol.2015;8(2):55-64. doi:10.1515/intox-2015-0009Breyre A, Green-McKenzie J.Case of acute lead toxicity associated with Ayurvedic supplements.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016:bcr2016215041. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-215041Hauptman M, Bruccoleri R, Woolf AD.An update on childhood lead poisoning.Clin Pediat Emerg Med. 2017;18(3):181-92. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2017.07.010Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Substance data sheet for occupational exposure to lead.Gwini S, MacFarlane E, Del Monaco A, et al.Cancer incidence, mortality, and blood lead levels among workers exposed to inorganic lead.Ann Epidemiol.2012;22(4):270-6. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.01.003Lanphear BP, Rauch S, Auinger P, Allen RW, Hornung RW.Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults: A population-based cohort study.Lancet Pub Health. 2018;3(4):e177-e184. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30025-2
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About childhood lead poisoning prevention.American Academy of Pediatrics.Lead exposure & children: FAQ for families.World Health Organization.Lead poisoning and health.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.Symptoms of lead exposure.Council on Environmental Health.Prevention of childhood lead toxicity.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1493Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding your risk for lead exposure.Wani AL, Ara A, Usmani JA.Lead toxicity: A review.Interdiscipl Toxicol.2015;8(2):55-64. doi:10.1515/intox-2015-0009Breyre A, Green-McKenzie J.Case of acute lead toxicity associated with Ayurvedic supplements.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016:bcr2016215041. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-215041Hauptman M, Bruccoleri R, Woolf AD.An update on childhood lead poisoning.Clin Pediat Emerg Med. 2017;18(3):181-92. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2017.07.010Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Substance data sheet for occupational exposure to lead.Gwini S, MacFarlane E, Del Monaco A, et al.Cancer incidence, mortality, and blood lead levels among workers exposed to inorganic lead.Ann Epidemiol.2012;22(4):270-6. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.01.003Lanphear BP, Rauch S, Auinger P, Allen RW, Hornung RW.Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults: A population-based cohort study.Lancet Pub Health. 2018;3(4):e177-e184. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30025-2
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About childhood lead poisoning prevention.American Academy of Pediatrics.Lead exposure & children: FAQ for families.World Health Organization.Lead poisoning and health.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.Symptoms of lead exposure.Council on Environmental Health.Prevention of childhood lead toxicity.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1493Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding your risk for lead exposure.Wani AL, Ara A, Usmani JA.Lead toxicity: A review.Interdiscipl Toxicol.2015;8(2):55-64. doi:10.1515/intox-2015-0009Breyre A, Green-McKenzie J.Case of acute lead toxicity associated with Ayurvedic supplements.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016:bcr2016215041. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-215041Hauptman M, Bruccoleri R, Woolf AD.An update on childhood lead poisoning.Clin Pediat Emerg Med. 2017;18(3):181-92. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2017.07.010Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Substance data sheet for occupational exposure to lead.Gwini S, MacFarlane E, Del Monaco A, et al.Cancer incidence, mortality, and blood lead levels among workers exposed to inorganic lead.Ann Epidemiol.2012;22(4):270-6. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.01.003Lanphear BP, Rauch S, Auinger P, Allen RW, Hornung RW.Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults: A population-based cohort study.Lancet Pub Health. 2018;3(4):e177-e184. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30025-2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About childhood lead poisoning prevention.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Lead exposure & children: FAQ for families.
World Health Organization.Lead poisoning and health.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.Symptoms of lead exposure.
Council on Environmental Health.Prevention of childhood lead toxicity.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1493
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding your risk for lead exposure.
Wani AL, Ara A, Usmani JA.Lead toxicity: A review.Interdiscipl Toxicol.2015;8(2):55-64. doi:10.1515/intox-2015-0009
Breyre A, Green-McKenzie J.Case of acute lead toxicity associated with Ayurvedic supplements.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016:bcr2016215041. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-215041
Hauptman M, Bruccoleri R, Woolf AD.An update on childhood lead poisoning.Clin Pediat Emerg Med. 2017;18(3):181-92. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2017.07.010
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Substance data sheet for occupational exposure to lead.
Gwini S, MacFarlane E, Del Monaco A, et al.Cancer incidence, mortality, and blood lead levels among workers exposed to inorganic lead.Ann Epidemiol.2012;22(4):270-6. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.01.003
Lanphear BP, Rauch S, Auinger P, Allen RW, Hornung RW.Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults: A population-based cohort study.Lancet Pub Health. 2018;3(4):e177-e184. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30025-2
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