The Natural Resources Defense Council has released a press statement stating that some dietary calcium supplements contain unacceptable levels of lead. NRDC is petitioning FDA to develop regulations for lead levels in these products. Click here for links providing more information on lead in calcium. Lead is an environmental toxicant that can have adverse health effects on the nervous system, blood system, renal system, and reproductive system.
Lead provides no biologic benefit to the body.
Lead exposure in young children is of particular concern because children absorb lead more readily than adults and because their developing nervous systems are more vulnerable to lead's effects. Lead exposure in young children is of particular concern because children absorb lead more readily than adults and because their developing nervous systems are more vulnerable to lead's effects. There are still many children in the United States who are exposed to lead, primarily from deteriorating lead-based paint and leaded dust in older housing. However, there has been a substantial decline in average blood-lead levels throughout the United States population over the past 20 years. The decline appears to be related to reductions in a number of sources of lead, most notably leaded gasoline and lead-soldered food cans.