A Review of Lead Poisoning, Sources and Adverse Effects

Usman Bawa, Ahmad Bukar, Yahaya Abdullahi

Abstract


Lead poisoning is an important environmental disease that can have lifelong adverse health effects. Most susceptible are children, and most commonly exposed are those who are poor and live in developing countries. Studies of children blood lead levels (BLLS) are showing cognitive impairment at increasingly lower BLLS. The sources of lead exposure vary among and within countries depending on past and current uses. Sources of lead may be from historic contamination, recycling old lead products, gold ore processing. In many countries where leaded gasoline is no longer used,average population BLLS have declined rapidly. This article highlights several major sources of lead poisoning, adverse health effects, worldwide. In addition, we recommend three primary prevention strategies for lead poisoning: Identify sources, eliminate or control sources, and monitor environmental exposures and hazards.


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