Lead and lead compounds can be highly toxic when eaten
or inhaled. Although lead is absorbed very slowly into the body, its rate
of excretion is even slower. Thus, with constant exposure, lead accumulates
gradually in the body. It is absorbed by the red blood cells and circulated
through the body where it becomes concentrated in soft tissues, especially
the liver and kidneys. Lead can cause lesions in the central nervous system
and apparently can damage the cells making up the blood-brain barrier that
protects the brain from many harmful chemicals.
Symptoms of lead poisoning include loss of appetite, weakness, anemia, vomiting, and convulsions, sometimes leading to permanent brain damage or even death.. Children who ingest chips of old, lead-contaminated paint or are exposed to dust from the deterioration of such paint may exhibit these symptoms. The newborn of mothers who had been exposed to lead levels even considered safe for children appear to show signs of slowed mental growth. Levels or environmental lead considered non-toxic may also be involved in increased hypertension in a significant number of persons, according to studies released in the mid - 1980's. As a result, the U.S. Center for Disease Control has been downgrading the acceptable levels of environmental lead it would normally consider safe. At one time, lead poisoning was common among those who worked with lead, but such workplace hazards have been largely curtailed.
The Effects of Lead on Blood Pressure and The Kidney's - Denise Grady, New York Times
The United States Environmental Protection Agency Lead Web Page
Lead in your drinking water - United States Environmental Protection Agency
Lead Based Paint a Threat To Toddlers - Sara Solovitch, San Jose Mercury
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