Since lead can affect almost all systems within the body, the symptoms of lead exposure are many. Some of these symptoms can occur with acute and/or chronic exposure to lead.
Acute Lead Poisoning
Acute exposure to lead generally means exposure for a short time, but at high levels.
The most common symptom in acute lead poisoning is colicky abdominal pain, evolving over days to weeks, Constipation or diarrhea may also occur. The abdominal paint may be severe enough to suggest an abdominal emergency such as a gall bladder attack or appendicitis.
The other major problems of acute lead poisoning are damage to the brain and central nervous system. This may lead to additional, nonspecific complaints including irritability, fatigue, weakness, and muscle pain. In more severe cases, warning symptoms of acute, serious brain swelling include vomiting, irritability, restlessness, tremors, and progressive drowsiness.
These symptoms may herald the onset of seizures, coma, and possibly death. Rapid development of severe lead poisoning to this degree is uncommon, except in situations where there is massive, uncontrolled exposure to lead.
Some cases of acute lead poisoning may be associated with the interruption of the formation of red blood cells. This disruption causes anemia, which is one symptom of lead poisoning.
Chronic Lead Poisoning
Chronic lead exposure generally means exposure to low to moderate levels of lead over a long period of time.
Chronic lead poisoning may result after lead has accumulated over time in the body, mostly in the bone. Long after exposure has ceased, some event such as illness or pregnancy may release this stored lead from the bone and produce adverse health effects such as
· Impaired blood formation;
· Alteration in the central and peripheral nervous systems;
· High blood pressure;
· Effects on the male and female reproductive systems (including no sex drive and deformed sperm);
· Damage to the developing fetus (lead freely crosses the placenta).
Effects such as coughing, nausea, skin rashes, and liver and kidney disorders may result from both acute and chronic lead exposure.
Reproductive Health Effects of Lead
Men
· Decreased sex drive
· Problems having an erection
· Decreased fertility
Women
· Decreased sex drive
· Decreased fertility
· Abnormal menstrual cycles
· Premature births
· Miscarriages
· Birth defects
· Lower birth rate
· Learning problems
· Behavioral problems
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