Lead Poisoning: Prevention and Treatment

I remember being fond of eating pencil leads in my childhood (don't snicker! I bet you all had an inexplicable urge to eat such a something too). While it was just another of my idiosyncrasies, I remember being given more of a hard time over it by my parents. Now, I know why. Lead poisoning is a dangerous ailment. It can lead to anything ranging from severe neurological damage to permanent or temporary reduction in the cognitive abilities of the human brain. While mild lead poisoning can lead to, either lethargy or hyperactivity, extreme cases can end in seizures or even death. Gastrointestinal side effects and reproductive problems can be considered the other effects of this disorder of grave outcomes.

Prevention

Preventing this disease from occurring can be very easy, if the following simple steps are religiously followed:

• Preventing exposure to lead-based household products and paints.
• Avoiding inhalation of lead fumes by using proper respiratory equipment, when visiting industrial areas or mines.
• Getting drinking water checked periodically, for lead and other poisonous metals that can be an outcome of corroded brass pipelines.
• Letting the initial water run for a while before using it, as it has a higher probability of containing lead. Hot tap water is more likely to have higher lead levels, so cooking with it should be avoided.
• Avoiding usage of artificial metal jewelery. Some forms of kohl and surma, also contain traces of lead.
• Minimizing the dust through regular wet mopping as well as vacuum cleaning using HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum cleaners.
• Reducing the numbers of dust collecting equipments, plants, books or soft-toys in your home.
• Washing the sheets, rugs and mattresses regularly.
• Getting a professional to check the house regularly for lead levels. It is essential to talk to the landlord to make rented houses lead-free.
• When remodeling the house, it is important to use protective gear, especially when pulling down old paint.
• Avoiding canned foods, food from unreliable sources, etc. and making sure that your hands are washed before eating.
• It is best to avoid home/folk remedies and also to check the ingredients of nutritional pills, before consumption.

Treatment

If prevention has failed and one needs treatment, lead poisoning can be treated in the following ways:

Through the Use of Chelating Agents: Chelation therapy uses agents like DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid - HO₂CCH(SH)CH(SH)CO₂H) and DMPS (2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid) to remove excess lead from the bloodstream. There is also the ALA (Alpha-lipoic acid) agent that succeeds in the same.
EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) Chemical Compound Therapy: This therapy prevents the excess metal from reacting and forming dangerous compounds inside the body. This therapy effectively lessens the effects of lead poisoning.
Dimercaprol (INN) or British anti-Lewisite (BAL): This compound, in itself toxic, treats toxic poisonings, like those of arsenic and lead. This treatment is done through an injection of chemical detoxicants in some muscular body part. This is often very painful.

It is said that it is easier and better to prevent something than to cure it, both cost-wise as well as effort-wise. Lead poisoning, and indeed all the other compound poisonings in general, leave back some lasting effects on human health, even long after they have been treated. These can only be avoided, if the simple steps of prevention are followed. So, I conclude by wishing you a healthy and happy prevention.