Lead is a mineral found in all parts of the environment. Before it was known how harmful it could be it, lead was used in paint, gasoline, water pipes, and many other products. The main sources of lead in our home environment today are old lead-based paint and lead water pipes. Lead affects practically all bodily systems. At low levels, it can adversely affect the brain, central nervous system, blood cells, and kidneys.
Higher levels can cause convulsions, coma, and even death.
Children run the greatest risk of developing lead poisoning because their growing bodies easily absorb lead, and their tissues are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Lead poisoning affects a child's developing brain. Lead poisoning at even low levels cuts a child's IQ and causes learning and behavior problems. Acute lead poisoning, which does have symptoms, can be fatal. Young children are most often the victims of lead paint poisoning, since they put almost anything into their mouths, chew on wood trim, window sills and other lead-painted surfaces.