Lead poisoning and how to prevent & treat it

Although lead poisoning rates have drastically declined since the 70’s, caution to avoid exposure is still very much advised.

Lead is a naturally occurring metal which is located in the earth’s crust and can leech into our environment through the process of manufacturing, mining, and burning fossil fuels.

The dangers of lead

Lead is a known cumulative toxin which affects the body as a whole and is especially harmful to young children. There really is no way to know if someone has been exposed to lead without getting tested for it.

When lead gets into the body, it gets distributed to the brain, liver, and kidneys. It also becomes stored in our teeth and bones where it continues to accumulate over time often releasing in our bloodstream during pregnancy and menopause.

Symptoms of lead toxicity include:

Fatigue/irritability
Peripheral neuropathy
Impaired concentration
Hearing loss
Nausea
Constipation
Anemia
Hypertension
Reduced Sperm count

Small children are at a greater risk of lead poisoning as they tend to absorb more lead than adults due to their growing bodies.

Because their nervous systems are sensitive, they are more likely to suffer the damaging effects of lead exposure leading to developmental and behavioral issues.

At one point, house paint and gasoline were both manufactured with lead. This is why people living in older houses with paint before 1977, are at greater risk of developing lead-related symptoms. In 1995, after several lead-based studies were performed, lead was banned from gasoline.

Lead exposure today

In some instances, lead can leech from the main water pipes (from waste dumps and industrial plants) and into the household water supply.

Older toys and products made with lead paint can release lead particles especially if the paint is chipping.

Lead can also be found in firearm ammunition such as bullets, pellets and slugs. When animals are shot in hunting or, if they ingest the bullets by mistake, their flesh can become contaminated with lead.

Preventing or limiting lead exposure

The first step in taking action against lead is to of course to get your blood tested for it. Anything over 2 micrograms/deciliter is said to be toxic.

A good way to prevent lead from getting into your home is to begin keeping dirty shoes at the door. Oftentimes, lead from soil/dirt can get on the bottom of our shoes and bringing that into our house puts us at risk of inhaling the dust.

Another way to prevent lead exposure is to regularly wash children’s hands/toys after playing outside. It’s also important to make sure that known lead sources are kept far away from children’s play areas.

Children and pregnant women should try and stay away from home renovations containing older paint as this could cause chipping and dust particles to become ingested or inhaled.

Removing lead from the body

If you’ve been tested and found to have a toxic level of lead in your body, there are several things you can do to remove it and/or prevent it from becoming an issue down the line. Generally, eating a healthy diet can help reduce its absorption by the body.

Here are a few other things you can do:

Eat foods that are high in Vitamin C or incorporate a supplement. This has been shown to remove lead from the body.
Add a Vitamin D3 supplement into your daily routine. This will help keep your bones strong and will help minimize the release of built-up lead into your bloodstream.
Use a carbon or reverse osmosis filter for your water as this can help remove heavy metals before they are stored in your body.
Run the cold water from your tap when washing fruits and vegetables as hot water can sometimes contain higher levels of lead
Incorporate Cilantro and garlic into your diet. Both have been shown to remove lead and other heavy metals from the body.
Iron blocks lead from being absorbed. Eating foods rich in iron such as red meat, beans, and raisins or taking an iron supplement can help.
Consider Chelation Therapy; an alternative medicine treatment which helps to remove heavy metals from the body.

If you or someone you know suspects they’ve been exposed to lead, get tested. Then, begin to take actionable steps to prevent further exposure and remove what’s already been accumulated.