Children are at greater risk because they tend to put things into their mouths. If these things contain lead or have lead dust on them, the lead will poison the children and stay in their bodies. Low levels of lead in children can slow mental development and cause learning and behavioral problems. High levels of lead may cause lasting damage to the developing nervous system and the reproductive system. Kidney damage, anemia, deafness, blindness, coma, and even death can also occur.
Adults can suffer from many of the same effects as children.
Many of the symptoms of lead poisoning can be mistaken for other illnesses. These symptoms may include tiredness, a short attention span, restlessness, poor appetite, constipation, headache, or sudden behavior change. More severe symptoms include vomiting, changes in consciousness, and sight and hearing loss. Lead dust and lead-based paint are the major sources of lead poisoning. If paint weathers, flakes, or becomes chalky, or is heated or sanded during renovation, it may produce toxic dust or fumes which could be inhaled.