It combines with red blood cells causing anaemia. Lead also settles in bones taking the place of calcium. It can be found in the liver and kidneys. Lead affects the nervous system, including the brain. Lead may pass through the placenta from mother to the unborn baby and it is found in milk if the mother has been exposed.
Children are especially sensitive to lead.
Lead is excreted only very slowly. The kidneys are the main route but sweat, nails and hair also play a part in eliminating lead from the body. Inhalation of dust, vapour, or smoke containing lead or inorganic lead compounds results to lead poisoning. Early signs of poisoning are stomachache, loss of appetite, fatigue and sleeplessness. If the exposure continues, the lead starts to accumulate because of the very slow excretion.