Essay On Lead Poisoning
Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. Although it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals causing health effects. Lead can be found in many places, much because of human activity through burning fossil fuels, mining, and manufacturing. Lead and lead compounds have been used in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, ammunition, and cosmetics. When lead is released to the air from industrial sources or vehicles, it may travel long distances before settling to the ground, where it usually sticks to soil particles. Lead may move from soil into groundwater depending on the
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Lead poisoning is a buildup of lead in the body, usually over months or years. Lead poisoning occurs when you absorb too much lead by breathing or swallowing a substance with lead in it, such as paint, dust, water, or food. Lead can damage almost every organ system, mainly the brain. Lead poisoning affects children more than adults because a child's body is still growing and developing compared to a fully developed adult. In children, too much lead in the body can cause lasting problems with growth and development. These can affect behavior, hearing, and learning and can slow the child's growth. In adults, lead poisoning can damage the brain and nervous system, the stomach, and the kidneys. It can also cause high blood pressure and other health problems. Although it isn't normal to have lead in your body, a small amount is present in most people. Environmental laws have reduced lead exposure in the United States, but it is still a health risk, especially for young children. There are treatments for lead poisoning, such as chelation therapy (you would be taking a medication that binds with the lead so that it's excreted in your urine) and EDTA therapy (doctors treat adults with lead levels greater than 45 mcg/dL of blood with one or more of three drugs, most commonly a chemical called ethylenediaminetetraacetic
Lead poisoning is a buildup of lead in the body, usually over months or years. Lead poisoning occurs when you absorb too much lead by breathing or swallowing a substance with lead in it, such as paint, dust, water, or food. Lead can damage almost every organ system, mainly the brain. Lead poisoning affects children more than adults because a child's body is still growing and developing compared to a fully developed adult. In children, too much lead in the body can cause lasting problems with growth and development. These can affect behavior, hearing, and learning and can slow the child's growth. In adults, lead poisoning can damage the brain and nervous system, the stomach, and the kidneys. It can also cause high blood pressure and other health problems. Although it isn't normal to have lead in your body, a small amount is present in most people. Environmental laws have reduced lead exposure in the United States, but it is still a health risk, especially for young children. There are treatments for lead poisoning, such as chelation therapy (you would be taking a medication that binds with the lead so that it's excreted in your urine) and EDTA therapy (doctors treat adults with lead levels greater than 45 mcg/dL of blood with one or more of three drugs, most commonly a chemical called ethylenediaminetetraacetic