Historically, painters have been innocent victims of lead paint poisoning. Lead from the dust of sanded surfaces and from the aerosol formed by paint was incorporated into their bodies in large doses. Yet these people did not realize they were suffering, because visible signs of toxicity would only occur on hot, sunny, summer days. On such occasions, they would exhibit classical symptoms of lead poisoning, which included lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and occasional seizures. In the 1970s and 1980s, many of the children of these do it-yourselfers were poisoned by exposure to this dust.
Some medical disorders can make people highly susceptible to lead poisoning.
Mentally impaired individuals are at risk, being more sensitive to smaller amounts of lead. As their brains are already working at maximum capacity, no reserve pathways exist to make up for further damage caused by lead poisoning. Virtually everyone can be affected by lead paint, including pets, because lead paint has a sweet taste. President Bush's dog, Millie, attracted national media attention by exhibiting symptoms of lead paint poisoning, presumably from chewing on the White House . Lead is usually mined and refined into its elemental form, which is a heavy bluish-white substance.