Lead poisoning

Lead is not known to have any physiological role in the body but is ubiquitous in nature. In our country there are many sources of lead exposure, in particular paints and recycling of batteries. Lead is a persistent metal and is present in water, soil and dust. After being absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) or respiratory system, it is stored in soft tissues as well as bones. Lead tends to affect many organ systems in the body particularly the nervous system and kidneys. There are no safe levels and data suggests that low level exposure to lead may also affect health of individuals. The diagnosis of lead toxicity can be done by measuring blood lead levels and K x ray fluorescence (KXRF) instruments which measure lead levels in bone. The treatment consists of chelating agents like BAL, EDTA & DMSA. Eliminating lead from potential sources of exposure would go a long way in preventing effects of lead toxicity.