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Lead Poisoning
Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning
Absorption
Skin:
- little/no absorption
Inhalation (<1m):
- dust or lead fumes - absorb 50-70%
Oral:
- adults absorb 10% - children absorb 40-50%
- increased absorption if low Fe, Ca
Lead poisoning
Storage & Distribution
1 Rapid turnover soft tissue pool:
T1/2 30-40 days; blood, liver, kidney, CNS
Lead poisoning
Occupational
Sources
Environmental
Lead smelters paint (walls, furniture, toys) Painter/decorators water Battery manufacturers food Stain-glass workers air (petrol, industry), dust/soil Jewellery makers Other Bronze workers etc... traditional remedies (Ayruvedic) surma & kohl cosmetics lead shot lead glazed ceramics foreign body ingestion
e.g. curtain/fishing weight, snooker chalk
500-700 600-1000
Abdominal pain, constipation, weight loss, loss of appetite Mild anaemia
>700 >1000
Abdominal colic, vomiting
GI Tract Blood
Nil
Severe anaemia
CNS
Fatigue, poor concentration [Peripheral neuropathy] Hypertension, nephrotoxicity, lowered Vit D metabolism
Encephalopathy - delirium - ataxia - fits - coma Hypertension, nephrotoxicity, lowered Vit D metabolism
Other
Nil
Radiology
AXR ?lead in gut Long bone XR in children
>700g/l
>700g/l