Lead poisoning, among other cases of toxic effects on humans, confidently occupies the first line. Lead is one of the most common "slow poisons" that can accumulate imperceptibly in tissues and organs. This is the first metal that served man long before the creation of blast furnaces and the manufacture of less harmless alloys. Its softness and plasticity were appreciated in Egypt when creating combs and brushes, and the Romans laid lead water pipes. It is not known why Caesar and Cleopatra actually died… Maybe the lead is to blame?
In the Middle Ages, metal was used instead of slate, rings and seals were made from it. According to one version, the cause of Beethoven's death was lead poisoning. Until the end of the 19th century, people were not aware of the toxicity of the composition; instead of sugar, it was added to wine. In today's world, despite the limitations of the useof this metal in industries, in the paint and varnish, household and chemical industries, it is impossible to avoid the harmful effects of it.
How does it enter the body?
Things, food and electrical appliances can become a source of infection - an old painted chest of drawers, a container of water, potatoes grown on "bad soil" and even a jar of sprats. Lead is used as a solder in the manufacture of canned food in an alloy with tin and can react with products during long storage. It is important to remember that if more than two years have passed since the date of manufacture of canned food, then, most likely, the lead has already reacted. There are at least fifty confirmed cases in history when travelers died due to lead poisoning precisely because of improperly canned food. And the term "scurvy" is nothing more than a manifestation of the symptoms of severe intoxication with a poisonous metal.
The combination of tin and lead is very common today. For connecting pipelines and cables, in batteries - this alloy is used everywhere. When heated, lead can release some toxic fumes.
Exhaust fumes, urban dust, cigarette smoke - contain toxic lead to a lesser extent, its vapors and compounds settle in the lungs for years, accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and slowly poison the body. Cases of acute poisoning are not uncommon. To a greater extent, this is due to professional risks - most often, poisoning of this nature is received by workers of smelters, printing houses - in case of violation of technologysafety when working with hazardous vapors and compounds.
Why continue to use?
Lead is a unique metal. It has high strength, is not subject to corrosion, does not transmit radiation, is quite plastic, and is easily mined. It is used for the manufacture of fire fighting equipment, since its melting point is very low - minus 327 degrees. Marine or river vessels are often coated with lead-containing compounds to prevent corrosion of the metal. For the same reason, some machine parts are made of lead, used in the creation of shells and bullets, and due to its ability to contain radiation, the substance is used as a protective coating for rooms at nuclear hydroelectric power plants, at enterprises where the threat of radiation is high. Lead can be found even in the hospital. Plates made of this metal protect a person during x-rays. Lead is used in the manufacture of whitewash and putties, some is present in paints. Thanks to him, they dry very quickly.
You can get a dose of lead and, it would seem, in an "environmentally clean place." Sometimes toxic poisons enter the soil from rivers that poison chemical plants. Food grown here can also cause lead poisoning. According to estimates, a person receives a third of the toxic substance through the use of food and even water. Mushrooms collected along roadsides can often be poisonous. According to the concentration of harmful lead derivatives, even a porcini mushroom collected in a "dirty place" is easilyturns into a toadstool.
The risk group is children
Lead is found in accumulators and batteries! Children who are left unattended often swallow them, especially coin cell batteries. In addition to burning the esophagus, this can cause severe lead intoxication. Metal and its compounds may be contained in the paints that cover toys. Especially if they were made before the 60s of the last century. Yellow is considered especially dangerous. In addition, low quality goods, especially those made in China, do not always have certificates of conformity. Therefore, toxic-smelling toys can pose a potential threat. Peeling frames in old houses are one of the main causes of lead poisoning in children. Paint and whitewash produced in the first half of the 20th century and earlier used lead. Pieces of paint get stuck under the nails and easily get into the mouth. The child's body, due to its nature, is not able to quickly remove toxic products. Up to five years, it absorbs up to 40% of the toxic dose, while in adults this figure reaches 10. Particularly dangerous are car exhaust fumes. Combined with decay products, lead can cause loss of consciousness and death within minutes.
Doses and Absorption
By the way, the possibility of absorption in each person may be different. We all remember the story of Rasputin, who was not affected by a horse dose of potassium cyanide - the most powerful synthetic poison known to mankind. The fact is that the indicators of "absorption" of lead can be affected by a deficiency of certain trace elements. If inthe human body lacks zinc, calcium or iron, then the solubility of the metal in the body will be lower, because poisoning will occur more slowly.
Lead is present in certain amounts in cosmetics: eyeliners, shadows and eyeliners. It is better to buy expensive and natural cosmetics that have certificates of compliance with GOST.
Poison accumulation in numbers
The kidneys of a he althy person can excrete 100 micrograms of lead per day. At the same time, a person living in a “polluted” area inhales 150 micrograms of metal daily. The difference settles in the tissues and organs. Of this amount, 5% accumulates in the blood, 90% penetrates into the bone tissue, mineralizes there and “falls asleep” without causing much discomfort.
However, settling in the bones, lead gradually displaces calcium, which eventually leads to osteoporosis as a result of prolonged intoxication. Such manifestations are characteristic of chronic lead poisoning. The remaining 5% is the most problematic part, they settle in the kidneys and nerve tissues. The process of disintegration of protein cells begins. Lead changes their structure, depriving cells of the ability to divide, feed, and produce metabolic reactions. An inflammatory process begins in the tissues. Or intoxication.
How to diagnose lead poisoning?
The first symptoms of lead poisoning are often invisible to humans. Poisoning can only be determined with a blood test.
Results are likely to be low hemoglobin, an increased number of reticulocytes or red blood cells that have lost their nucleus. The calculation technology is as follows - for 1 thousand erythrocytes, the number of non-nuclear cells should normally be one percent. If more, then most likely there is poisoning. In the urine, the concentration of porphyrins increases, which indicates a violation of the function of the liver, and the metal itself is determined. Sometimes its increased concentration can lead to the occurrence of malignant tumors in this organ. Affecting the liver cells, lead provokes hepatitis. The liver is greatly enlarged, bilirubin levels in the blood increase, jaundice develops. Protein is present in urine test to confirm acute CNS injury or lead encephalopathy.
Auxiliary diagnostic methods:
- Ultrasound of the abdomen and liver.
- cardiogram of the heart.
- X-ray of the lungs, in case of lead poisoning.
- Pressure measurement.
Lead poisoning - symptoms
Signs of lead poisoning manifest themselves in varying degrees. One of the most striking, which immediately draws attention to itself is the change in the color of the gums. They take on a grayish bluish tint.
There is a specific chemical reaction between hydrogen sulfide found in saliva and lead derivatives. By the way, the same coloration of the gums is obtained in case of poisoning with both lead and mercury. Only the taste is bitter in mercury poisoning, and lead is sweet. But to clarify the diagnosisbe sure to donate blood.
Anemia and pale skin. This is primarily due to a decrease in the concentration of he althy red blood cells in the blood. High concentration of porphyrins, may appear as patches on the face.
With persistent chronic lead poisoning, an inflammatory process of the nerves in the arms and legs develops: a person feels weakness in the muscles, the gait becomes “staggering”, the legs give way, sometimes the feet and hands lose sensitivity.
One of the serious symptoms of chronic lead poisoning is encephalopathy. A person is tormented by persistent migraines and insomnia, intracranial pressure rises to critical, mortality from this condition is very high and reaches 40 percent. A person cannot control his emotions: he is either lethargic or irritable. This condition is accompanied by convulsions, seizures similar to epileptic seizures occur, hallucinations occur. One of the complications of lead poisoning encephalopathy is meningitis.
Irreversible changes are also observed in the intestines. In addition to irregular, sometimes bloody stools, constipation, nausea, a person may experience sharp cramping abdominal pain.
The fact is that lead has an irritating effect on the vagus nerve. This causes spasm of the intestinal muscles, but the intestinal loops are relaxed. This desynchronization of the bowels leads to a violation of the chair and even the development of persistent intestinal obstruction.
How to diagnose lead colicon your own?
- Lie on your back, try to relax.
- When the abdomen is drawn in, the pains are released. There is a tight pressure, the stomach becomes "stone".
- The poisoned person suffers from constipation for several days. No laxatives help.
- White coating on the tongue.
Lead affects the human endocrine system. In case of poisoning with heavy metals, lead and mercury, hyperthyroidism, or excessive production of the hormone thyroxine, is diagnosed. Which negatively affects male strength, and also leads to a violation of the menstrual cycle. A person loses weight, sweats a lot, is prone to apathy and depression.
Poisoning with lead compounds is no less dangerous. The most common of these is lead acetate, or "lead sugar". In small doses, it is used to this day in the dyeing of fabrics, in the chemical and cosmetic industries, and in pharmaceuticals. Poisoning can occur due to the use of poor-quality lipstick, or shadows. This type of lead is used to make some solutions, ointments and plasters.
Lead “washes out” the most important vitamins from the body, primarily C and B1. Therefore, in case of poisoning with this substance, multivitamins and a special diet are prescribed as therapy.
How to treat?
Treatment for lead poisoning should begin immediately. Procedure:
Remove lead from the body. Activated charcoal may help. The following preparations may have absorbent properties
- When swallowing substances containing lead, immediately induce vomiting. This can easily be done using a solution of warm water at a concentration of 1 one liter tablespoon of s alt.
- Eat or drink foods that have an enveloping effect. It can be milk, jelly, a decoction of flaxseed. These foods will create a thin film in the stomach that will slow down the absorption of toxic substances.
- Taking antidotes. They bind absorbed lead ions and remove them from the body: "Unithiol", "Ethylenediamine tetraacetate sodium", "Succimer", "D-penicillamine". Foods rich in magnesium, selenium, calcium, vitamins A and C have similar properties.
- In acute poisoning, it is necessary to monitor the condition of vital organs: heart, lungs, kidneys.
- Medication for symptoms and effects of poisoning, such as restoring bowel or liver function.
It is important to remember that lead poisoning or chronic intoxication leaves its consequences. The sooner treatment is started, the fewer complications there will be.
How to protect yourself?
Prevention of occupational lead poisoning. First of all, it is the observance of safety precautions when working with lead and its vapors. At risk, representatives of such professions as: welders, printers, pharmacists, steelworkers, radiologists, hydroelectric engineers and nuclear submariners.
Prevention of lead poisoning in the home. Chronic lead poisoning can also occur in your home. This is especially true for private houses of old construction, up to the 60s. Very often, paints and whitewash, as well as plaster, have a high lead content. As we remember, this metal after entering into a chemical reaction can accumulate. Therefore, when peeling paint, wallpaper in old houses, gloves and a respirator must be used. In order not to grab the “dose”, it is better to get rid of old things, especially dishes with a lead compound, replace pipes if necessary, or install water purification systems.
It's important to make sure your kids wash their hands when they come home from a walk. Small children must not be left unattended. Remove their visibility range of batteries and wires. When buying paint for the house, cosmetics and toys, require certificates of conformity, which indicate the maximum standards for lead content. If poisoning is suspected, take preventive measures immediately.
