Lead poisoning is a serious illness caused by swallowing or breathing too much lead.
Even small amounts of lead paint flakes or leaded dust can be harmful in the body. Anyone who eats, drinks or breathes something which has too much lead can get lead poisoning, but lead is most dangerous for children under six years of age. Lead can even pass from the blood of a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. Most of the time there are no signs of lead poisoning, or when they appear, they may seem like the flu or other illnesses. High levels of lead can cause brain damage, mental retardation, anemia, liver and kidney damage, hearing loss, and can sometimes cause death.