Lead (Pb)
Lead is a known neurotoxin, and according to OSHA, recent epidemiological and experimental studies further support the theory that lead can cause blood lead levels as low as 10 µg/dL in adults to be associated with impaired kidney function, high blood pressure, nervous system and neurobehavioral effects, cognitive dysfunction later in life, and subtle cognitive effects attributed to prenatal exposure. The effects continue to get worse as BLLs increase; as BLLs exceed 20 µg/dL, can cause impact how your brain functions and negatively impact sperm/semen quality and delay conception. BLLs between 20 to 40 µg/dL are associated with slower reaction times and attention deficits, and above 40 µg/dL, workers have reported symptoms such as headache, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, joint pain and constipation.
Although Lead (Pb) was banned in the US for many products, it is still commonly found in our environment and in some homes. According to the US EPA, Lead is likely to be found in many older homes built before 1978, the year the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-based paint, and over 85% likely to be in homes built before the 1940s. This is because paint is rarely remediated and is usually painted over as it begins to peel or become damaged. Once the layer of paint containing Lead begins to break down, it can settle on floors as dust and get into our air.
Additionally, children are at risk for eating Lead as they crawl and explore the world by putting things in their mouths. This Lead-based paint isn’t found on just walls in old homes, but on window sills, doors and frames, stair railings, banisters and porches. As a result, simple home repairs and replacements have the potential to break down lead into dust, and if it is not cleaned and disposed of properly, you and/or your loved ones can be exposed. Horrifyingly, Lead can also be found in toys and other products despite both the CDC and EPA stating in no uncertain terms that “there is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood.” In October 2023, four children in North Carolina were found to have alarmingly high levels of lead in their blood. State health officials found that all four children had been eating pouches of fruit puree sold by WanaBana. When North Carolina health officials tested the WanaBana product, they found that it contained “extremely high” concentrations of lead. By December, FDA officials reported more than 200 children in the U.S. had been poisoned by the tainted cinnamon in the apple puree in these pouches.
Resources:
- Lead Hotline – National Lead Information Center: 1-800-424-LEAD [5323]
- EPA Lead Section
- OSHA Quick Card – Take-Home Lead
- OSHA Lead Page – Standard 1910.1025
- NIOSH Lead Page
- CDC and Lead
- EPA: Consumer Confidence Reports