M9.4 Heavy Metals

Lead Poisoning

The article on Lead poisoning describes the health effects of lead poisoning on adults and children. The author explains the molecular mechanism cause by lead. Lead binds strongly to sulfhydryl groups on proteins, which leads to many organs being affected. The nervous system is mainly affected by lead poisoning. Lead in the body leads to destruction of specific enzymes and structural proteins. Various research has shown the adverse effects of lead in human health. Lead interferes with myelin formation and the blood-brain barrier, synthesis of collagen, affects vascular permeability, can result in brain edema and hemorrhage. The way lead affects children and adults is very different. In adults lead can affect the PNS, CNS, kidneys, and blood pressure. Different levels of lead exposure also have different effects. For example at high doses, lead poisoning can cause intractable colic, motor clumsiness, clouded consciousness, weakness, and paralysis. A study that analysed British factory inspectors found that lead poisoning has different effects in both males and females. Lead poisoning in these workers lead to higher neonatal deaths, a decrease fertility rate in women and males had lower sperm counts. Children are at a higher risk for lead exposure due to the hand-to-mouth activity, the ability of their gut to absorb lead better than adults, and due to their developing CNS. Lead exposure in children have show to drastically affects their cognitive functions. Children exposed to lead have shown to have lower reading levels, lover IQ's, higher attention deficits, and higher aggressive behaviors.


An environmental health response to a severe outbreak of childhood lead poisoning in Nigeria

In 2010, over 400 deaths among children younger than 5 was attributed to lead poising in remote villages in Nigeria. Investigators identified the soil from artisanal gold ore processing as the main source of lead contamination. After intervention from international agencies, contaminated materials were removed and various campaign were implemented to decrease lead in the environment. After a 4 year intervention, the lead levels in children were reduced.

As I learned about the various effects of lead in children, I was very concern in the potential exposure we have from other products. The outbreak in Nigeria was due to a need of gold found in local mines. The global demand of many products coming from remote parts of the world are causing various health problems. We, the consumers, might not realize the great effects we have on other individuals, but in reality, our needs of certain products are causing a devastating health effect on individuals who provide us with these products.