What causes lead poisoning

Lead is a heavy metal that is widely present in industrial pollutants. It is extremely harmful to human health, especially affecting the human nervous system, skeletal system and cardiovascular system. It often causes brain diseases caused by liver and kidney diseases. There are many causes of lead poisoning, such as car exhaust, pencils used by children, unclean drinking water, etc.

What causes lead poisoning?

1. First of all, children's study stationery such as pencils contain lead. Some children like to use their mouths to pick up pencils, or eat without washing their hands after studying, which can cause lead poisoning.

2. The cosmetics and lipsticks we use contain lead. If you use these things during pregnancy, they will be passed to the fetus through the mother.

3. The impurities in our drinking water also contain lead. Drinking it directly without treatment can also cause lead poisoning

4. The lead content in some puffed foods, pickled foods, and fried foods exceeds the standard, so it is best not to eat them.

5. Exhaust gas from automobile tail gas is also a cause of lead poisoning

6. Waste materials, sewage and exhaust gas discharged from factories are a major factor in lead poisoning.

7. The ingredients in secondhand smoke can also cause lead poisoning and may cause cancer.

8. The lead content of the furniture we renovated is seriously exceeded within three months, so we must open the windows to dissipate the odor.

Prevention of lead poisoning

1. Cut off the source of pollution

The most effective measure to prevent lead poisoning is to cut off the source of pollution and reduce the pollution of various garbage to our living space. To reduce the hazards of lead toxicity, we should first avoid contact with lead, such as treating automobile exhaust, promoting the use of unleaded gasoline, and developing lead-free pigments and coatings. Do not eat or eat less lead-containing foods such as preserved eggs, puffed foods, canned drinks, popcorn, etc., as well as foods that are easily contaminated by lead dust. Do not drink tap water that has been stored in lead pipes for a long time. In the early morning, you should drain the overnight water in the indoor lead pipes before using it. Pregnant women should avoid using cosmetics and hair dyes to prevent lead from passing through the placenta from mother to fetus and causing excessive blood lead levels in newborns[3].

2. Stay away from lead-contaminated areas

People should stay away from lead-contaminated industrial areas as much as possible, and workers working in high-lead environments should take good protective measures. Since children are more sensitive to lead poisoning and lead pollution on both sides of roads is generally more serious, do not play or walk along the road to reduce the absorption of lead through the respiratory tract. Children should develop a good habit of washing their hands with running water. They should wash their hands properly before meals, after defecation, after study, after playing, when returning from outside, and before eating fruit. This can reduce the absorption of lead through the digestive tract. It is necessary to regularly test the lead level in the body, and take immediate treatment measures if lead poisoning is discovered.

3. Improve dietary structure

Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that lead and many nutrients can interact to reduce lead toxicity. Nutrients including total food intake and fat intake can affect lead absorption, among which the intake of calcium, iron and selenium has a greater impact. Because calcium can reduce the absorption of lead by the gastrointestinal tract, children and pregnant women should supplement their diet with calcium to reduce lead poisoning. Because lead destroys the body's antioxidant defense system, antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, and B-carotene should be supplemented in the diet. Increasing protein intake can reduce the absorption of lead, increase the secretion of antibodies and thus enhance resistance, which is helpful in preventing lead poisoning.