LEAD POISONING–A DISEASE OF OUR TIME

Abstract

Lead poisoning among children who eat paint chips and other non-food items containing lead is a serious environmental and public health problem. Ingestion of lead can result in irreversible biological effects including mental retardation and even death. Additionally, ingestion of food and water contaminated with lead, and inspiration of lead-polluted air may also bring about detrimental physiological responses, especially to enzyme systems concerned with blood synthesis. This review discusses the lead poisoning problem among children as regards sources of contamination as well as testing methods used to find potential victims of this man-made disease. The amounts and sources of lead found in foods, both raw and processed, and the quantities found in air are detailed. Implications of daily ingestion of small amounts of lead from food, water, and air are discussed.