Lead poisoning Lead poisoning Lead poisoning is a toxic condition caused by excess lead or lead compounds in the body. Lead poisoning may result from swallowing objects that contain lead or from inhaling lead dust or fumes. Some forms of lead can be absorbed through the skin. Lead poisoning afflicts many children who eat paint chips with a high lead content. Such paint is found in many older homes.
Poisoning can also occur through drinking water that comes from lead pipes.
Inhalation of lead fumes is common in smelting, battery manufacturing, and other industries that use lead. Such industries may pollute the environment with lead dust and fumes, which may cause poisoning in people who live near the plants. Another source of lead is the exhaust from automobiles that use leaded gasoline. Lead is excreted very slowly and so tends to accumulate in the body tissues, especially in the nervous system, bones, liver, pancreas, teeth, and gums. A small amount of lead can circulate in the body without causing ill effects, but when larger amounts are ingested, the production of red blood cells is impaired, and normal body functions are disturbed.