What is Lead Poisoning?

Lead is a widespread industrial pollutant that can affect the functions of the human nervous system, cardiovascular system, skeletal system, reproductive system, and immune system, and cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, and brain. The main methods to prevent lead poisoning are to cut off the source of pollution, to stay away from the polluted area and to improve the diet structure. The method to treat lead poisoning is to use metal chelating agents to promote the excretion of lead.

The application of lead in industry has a long history, but its toxicity has been recognized hundreds of years ago. Studies have shown that lead can cause a series of changes in physiological and biochemical indicators to affect the functions of the central and peripheral nervous system, cardiovascular system, reproductive system, and immune system, and cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, and brain. Children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to lead. Lead poisoning reduces children's intelligence, learning ability, perception and comprehension ability, inattention, hyperactivity, impulse, and causes language learning obstacles. Some even consider lead poisoning to be a factor in crime. The damage to the body caused by high levels of lead is fatal, and it has not been found to what level the lead content is safe for the body. Studies have shown that when children's blood lead levels are above 10 g / dl, they can cause irreversible damage to intelligent development, and often there are no clinical manifestations that attract attention ^[1]

The basic method of treating lead poisoning is to use metal chelating agents to promote the excretion of lead. Although this can reduce the blood lead content, it is not safe and effective, and it has the characteristics of rebound. Dimercaptopropanol can cause side effects in 50% of patients. Common problems include fever, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, night sweats, and may cause histamine release. Treatment with CaNa ₂ EDTA is prone to kidney disease. The new treatment method is to use antioxidants alone, or use antioxidants with chelating agents. Some antioxidants also have chelating agents. Therefore, the use of appropriate antioxidants alone has a good effect on lead poisoning. However, it is important to note that the diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning must be carried out under the guidance of a doctor and should not be used randomly. ^[4]