Blood levels lead poisoning

The alimentary symptoms may be overshadowed by neuromuscular dysfunction, accompanied by signs of motor weakness that may progress to paralysis of the exterior muscles or the wrist (wrist drop), and less often, of the ankles (foot drop). Encephalopathy, the most serious result of lead poisoning, frequendy occurs in children as a result of pica, ie, ingestion of inorganic lead compounds in paint chips this rarely occurs in adults. Nephropathy has also been associated with chronic lead poisoning (147). The toxic effects of lead may be most pronounced on the developing fetus. Consequendy, women must be particulady cautious of lead exposure (148). The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends a blood level of less than 10 p.m per 100 mL for children. 

At neither site is there evidence of absorption of lead to the degree usually associated with clinical symptoms of lead poisoning, and the reported blood-lead levels are not high enough to make this likely. However, a public health concern exists, particularly in the RSR area, since 5 percent of these black children were found to have lead toxicity. 

Baker EL Jr, Landrigan PJ, Barbour AG, et al. 1979. Occupational lead poisoning in the United States Clinical and biochemical findings related to blood lead levels. Br J Ind Med 36 314-322. 

Signs of lead poisoning, i.e., depressed blood ALAD activity or elevated blood lead levels, were reported for birds near a metal smelter (Beyer et al. 1985 Henny et al. 1991), in 17% of canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) from Chesapeake Bay in 1974 (Dieter etal. 1976), and in three species of... 

What are these subclinical effects Very simply, they are effects that occur at blood lead levels below those that produce clinically measurable effects - they occur in the absence of any sign of overt lead poisoning. These effects can be detected only by studying various forms of behavior, such as degree of hyperactivity and classroom attention span, and performance on various tests of intelligence and mental development. Deficits in neurobehavioral development, as measured by two widely used tests - the Bayley and McCarthy Scales - have been reported in children exposed prenatally (via maternal blood) to blood... 

Nephropathy has been associated with chronic lead poisoning. " A study of two large cohorts of heavily exposed lead workers followed through 1980 demonstrated a nearly threefold excess of deaths attributed to chronic nephritis or other hypertensive disease, primarily kidney disease. Most of the excess deaths occurred before 1970, among men who began work before 1946, suggesting that current lower levels of exposure may reduce the risk. Experimental animal studies suggest there may be a threshold for lead nephrotoxicity, and in workers, nephropathy occurred only in those with blood levels over 62p,g/dl for up to 12 years."... 

Lead poisoning Treatment of lead poisoning in children with blood lead levels above 45 mcg/dL. Not indicated for prophylaxis of lead poisoning in a lead-containing environment always accompany succimer use with identification and removal of the source of lead exposure. 

Measuring the child s blood lead level will be very useful in assessing the possibility of lead poisoning. There is evidence that at blood lead levels of about 10 Jig/dL, children are at risk for developmental impairment. Other tests that may be useful include examination for microcytic anemia and erythrocyte stippling and radiographic examination of the long bones for lead lines. 

---