Lead Poisoning Research Paper
The first society to use lead widely was the Roman Empire, and many historians believe that this use of lead actually contributed to the downfall of their civilization (Lah). Lead was used in their wine, cooking pots, coins, cosmetics, and in the pipes used for their plumbing system ("The Evolution of an Element."). The word “plumbing” comes from the Latin word “plumbum,” which translates to lead or “liquid silver” (Lah). This Latin word is also how the symbol for lead was formed, which is Pb. Over the years, lead has been used in many different materials such as paint and gasoline. It wasn’t until 1978 that lead-based paint was banned in the United States for use in houses (Lah). Most of the world realizes now that lead is a very dangerous and toxic chemical that humans need to be protected from. Lead is still used today in some situations, such as in batteries, but it is used carefully ("The Evolution of an Element."). Unfortunately, some people in this world want to
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use lead for evil, and they use this chemical to kill other humans. Lead is known to be a “highly toxic metal and a very strong poison” ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Lead is an element on the Periodic Table of Elements, specifically found in Group 14 ("Lead Chemical Element."). Since lead is an element, it does not have a chemical formula, but it does have the symbol Pb ("Lead - Pb."). The atomic number of this element is 82, because a lead atom has 82 protons. 207.2 g.mol-1 is the atomic mass of lead, and this metal melts at a temperature of 327°C, but it doesn’t boil until an extremely high temperature of 1755°C. Lead has been described as bluish-white, silvery-white, and gray ("Lead - Pb."). It tarnishes when exposed to air, giving it a dull gray color. This metal is “soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity” ("Lead - Pb."). It is also resistant to corrosion, highly durable, and dense ("Lead Chemical Element."). Lead has many uses in everyday life, besides being used to murder people. Lead is used in vehicle batteries, underwater communication cables, radiation protection, and many other things as well ("The Evolution of an Element."). This metal is very useful because it can absorb gamma radiation and x-rays ("Lead Chemical Element."). Because of this ability, lead is used to help transport radioactive materials and as a protective shield around nuclear reactors and x-ray equipment ("Lead Chemical Element."). Sometimes lead is used in ammunition, industrial machinery, and in storage batteries. Unfortunately, lead is still used in some times of gasoline, but it’s being “phased out” to help the environment ("Lead - Pb."). Lead is also used as a coloring element of in ceramic glazes, in the glass of computer screens, and in some exercise weights ("Lead - Pb."). Lead has also been called aabam, load, and plumbum ("Lead."). Lead is essentially toxic to humans because it replaces other metals in biochemical reactions. It can replace metals such as iron, zinc, and calcium. “Lead interferes with the proteins that cause certain genes to turn on and off by displacing other metals in the molecules … this changes the shape of the protein molecule such that it can’t perform its function” (Helmenstine). Lead sometimes affects proteins that regulate blood pressure, hemoglobin production, and sperm production (Helmenstine). These things can lead to high blood pressure, anemia, and possibly infertility. Lead also “displaces calcium in the reactions that transmit electrical impulses in the brain,” which basically makes it so people can’t think or remember information (Helmenstine). Lead accumulates in the body, which makes it even more dangerous. It can enter the body through uptake of food, water, or air ("Lead - Pb."). Lead does absolutely nothing to help a human body, it can only harm it. Lead can cause kidney damage, miscarriages, brain damage, disruption of nervous system functions, behavioral disruptions, and learning disabilities ("Lead - Pb."). Lead poising usually happens over a period of months or years, with young children being the most vulnerable to the poison. Children under the age of 6 are harmed more by lead because their brain and nervous system are still growing and developing. There are many symptoms that show up when someone is being poisoned by lead. Just a few signs of repeated lead exposure include abdominal pain, aggressive behavior, sleep problems, headaches, loss of developmental skills in children, memory loss, and loss of appetite. Signs of mental impairment in children include behavior problems, low IQ, problems with hearing, learning difficulties, and growth delays. If someone is suddenly exposed to a high, toxic dose of lead, there are different symptoms. These include vomiting, muscle weakness, stumbling, seizures, cramping, and possible a coma. ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline) As made obvious by these long lists of symptoms, lead can affect many parts of someone’s body. In fact, “lead toxicity can affect every organ system” ("Lead Toxicity."). High doses of lead at once can sometimes be fatal, and low doses over long periods of time have bad consequences as well. People can be tested in order to figure out their “lead levels,” or the amount of lead in their body, specifically their blood ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic).
Doctors usually “use a simple blood test to detect lead poisoning” ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic). A small amount of blood is taken from a vein or a prick of one finger. The lead levels in the blood are tested and measured in micrograms per deciliter. Low level in adults are not concerning, but they can cause concern in small children ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). “Normal” amounts of lead are different depending on the age of a person. In an adult, a normal level is less than 20 mcg/dL. If an adult has a slightly higher level and symptoms of lead poisoning, they will most likely be treated. If someone has a level higher than 60 mcg/dL, they are treated no matter what. In children, a normal level is below 10 mcg/dL, and any level higher than this is monitored closely. If a child’s level goes above 45 mcg/dL, they are treated
immediately. Levels that are between 10 mcg/dL and 15 mcg/dL have been shown to cause impaired neurobehavioral development in children ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Levels between 20 mcg/dL and 25 mcg/dL cause headaches, irritability, and nerve problems. If the level is between 50 mcg/dL and 70 mcg/dL, it is considered “moderate toxicity,” while levels greater than 70 mcg/dL are considered “severe poisoning” ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Different tests can be done to test lead levels, such as blood tests to look at iron, x-rays, and bone marrow biopsies ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). For already dead bodies, there is a test called the “sodium rhodizonate test for lead” ("Sodium Rhodizonate Test for Lead."). Although this test was specifically formed to test whether a lead bullet had been used to kill someone, it may be useful in finding lead in other parts of the body. This test “provides a color reaction indicative of the presence of lead,” so it might be useful in other situations ("Sodium Rhodizonate Test for Lead."). Almost all the tests currently done to detect lead in dead bodies are for bullet wounds, so the blood test that is used on live humans is most likely done on dead ones as well. The first step in treating lead poisoning is to remove the source. If the lead is coming from paint or some other identifiable source, it should be removed or sealed off. If the source cannot be removed, steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood it will cause problems. For people with low levels of lead, “simply avoiding exposure to lead may be enough to reduce blood lead levels” ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic). If the case is more severe, there are other treatments that may be done. Chelation therapy is one option. The person takes a pill that will bind with the accumulated lead, so that it will be excreted through urination. Sometimes activated charcoal is used in this process ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Another treatment is for people with lead levels greater than 45 mcg/dL, and it’s called EDTA therapy. It’s called this because the most common chemical given in this treatment is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, which is shortened to EDTA ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic).
use lead for evil, and they use this chemical to kill other humans. Lead is known to be a “highly toxic metal and a very strong poison” ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Lead is an element on the Periodic Table of Elements, specifically found in Group 14 ("Lead Chemical Element."). Since lead is an element, it does not have a chemical formula, but it does have the symbol Pb ("Lead - Pb."). The atomic number of this element is 82, because a lead atom has 82 protons. 207.2 g.mol-1 is the atomic mass of lead, and this metal melts at a temperature of 327°C, but it doesn’t boil until an extremely high temperature of 1755°C. Lead has been described as bluish-white, silvery-white, and gray ("Lead - Pb."). It tarnishes when exposed to air, giving it a dull gray color. This metal is “soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity” ("Lead - Pb."). It is also resistant to corrosion, highly durable, and dense ("Lead Chemical Element."). Lead has many uses in everyday life, besides being used to murder people. Lead is used in vehicle batteries, underwater communication cables, radiation protection, and many other things as well ("The Evolution of an Element."). This metal is very useful because it can absorb gamma radiation and x-rays ("Lead Chemical Element."). Because of this ability, lead is used to help transport radioactive materials and as a protective shield around nuclear reactors and x-ray equipment ("Lead Chemical Element."). Sometimes lead is used in ammunition, industrial machinery, and in storage batteries. Unfortunately, lead is still used in some times of gasoline, but it’s being “phased out” to help the environment ("Lead - Pb."). Lead is also used as a coloring element of in ceramic glazes, in the glass of computer screens, and in some exercise weights ("Lead - Pb."). Lead has also been called aabam, load, and plumbum ("Lead."). Lead is essentially toxic to humans because it replaces other metals in biochemical reactions. It can replace metals such as iron, zinc, and calcium. “Lead interferes with the proteins that cause certain genes to turn on and off by displacing other metals in the molecules … this changes the shape of the protein molecule such that it can’t perform its function” (Helmenstine). Lead sometimes affects proteins that regulate blood pressure, hemoglobin production, and sperm production (Helmenstine). These things can lead to high blood pressure, anemia, and possibly infertility. Lead also “displaces calcium in the reactions that transmit electrical impulses in the brain,” which basically makes it so people can’t think or remember information (Helmenstine). Lead accumulates in the body, which makes it even more dangerous. It can enter the body through uptake of food, water, or air ("Lead - Pb."). Lead does absolutely nothing to help a human body, it can only harm it. Lead can cause kidney damage, miscarriages, brain damage, disruption of nervous system functions, behavioral disruptions, and learning disabilities ("Lead - Pb."). Lead poising usually happens over a period of months or years, with young children being the most vulnerable to the poison. Children under the age of 6 are harmed more by lead because their brain and nervous system are still growing and developing. There are many symptoms that show up when someone is being poisoned by lead. Just a few signs of repeated lead exposure include abdominal pain, aggressive behavior, sleep problems, headaches, loss of developmental skills in children, memory loss, and loss of appetite. Signs of mental impairment in children include behavior problems, low IQ, problems with hearing, learning difficulties, and growth delays. If someone is suddenly exposed to a high, toxic dose of lead, there are different symptoms. These include vomiting, muscle weakness, stumbling, seizures, cramping, and possible a coma. ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline) As made obvious by these long lists of symptoms, lead can affect many parts of someone’s body. In fact, “lead toxicity can affect every organ system” ("Lead Toxicity."). High doses of lead at once can sometimes be fatal, and low doses over long periods of time have bad consequences as well. People can be tested in order to figure out their “lead levels,” or the amount of lead in their body, specifically their blood ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic).
Doctors usually “use a simple blood test to detect lead poisoning” ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic). A small amount of blood is taken from a vein or a prick of one finger. The lead levels in the blood are tested and measured in micrograms per deciliter. Low level in adults are not concerning, but they can cause concern in small children ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). “Normal” amounts of lead are different depending on the age of a person. In an adult, a normal level is less than 20 mcg/dL. If an adult has a slightly higher level and symptoms of lead poisoning, they will most likely be treated. If someone has a level higher than 60 mcg/dL, they are treated no matter what. In children, a normal level is below 10 mcg/dL, and any level higher than this is monitored closely. If a child’s level goes above 45 mcg/dL, they are treated
immediately. Levels that are between 10 mcg/dL and 15 mcg/dL have been shown to cause impaired neurobehavioral development in children ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Levels between 20 mcg/dL and 25 mcg/dL cause headaches, irritability, and nerve problems. If the level is between 50 mcg/dL and 70 mcg/dL, it is considered “moderate toxicity,” while levels greater than 70 mcg/dL are considered “severe poisoning” ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Different tests can be done to test lead levels, such as blood tests to look at iron, x-rays, and bone marrow biopsies ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). For already dead bodies, there is a test called the “sodium rhodizonate test for lead” ("Sodium Rhodizonate Test for Lead."). Although this test was specifically formed to test whether a lead bullet had been used to kill someone, it may be useful in finding lead in other parts of the body. This test “provides a color reaction indicative of the presence of lead,” so it might be useful in other situations ("Sodium Rhodizonate Test for Lead."). Almost all the tests currently done to detect lead in dead bodies are for bullet wounds, so the blood test that is used on live humans is most likely done on dead ones as well. The first step in treating lead poisoning is to remove the source. If the lead is coming from paint or some other identifiable source, it should be removed or sealed off. If the source cannot be removed, steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood it will cause problems. For people with low levels of lead, “simply avoiding exposure to lead may be enough to reduce blood lead levels” ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic). If the case is more severe, there are other treatments that may be done. Chelation therapy is one option. The person takes a pill that will bind with the accumulated lead, so that it will be excreted through urination. Sometimes activated charcoal is used in this process ("Lead Poisoning,” Healthline). Another treatment is for people with lead levels greater than 45 mcg/dL, and it’s called EDTA therapy. It’s called this because the most common chemical given in this treatment is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, which is shortened to EDTA ("Lead Poisoning,” Mayo Clinic).