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How to prevent Lead Poisoning?

One of the major reasons of lead poisoning is many months or years of exposure to lead in the environment. Especially, in children, lead poisoning cause kidney damage, brain damage, stunt growth, and can permanently damage mental and psychological development, whereas in adults, it can lead to increase in blood pressure, cause digestive problems, nerve disorders, sleep problems, kidney damage, and joint and muscle pain.

Nonetheless lead poisoning can be determined by a test that measures the levels of lead in the blood. One of the most ordinary sources of lead in the home are chipping or peeling lead-based paint and lead in soil or dust. Houses which are built before 1978 may have some lead-based paint and those built before 1950 often have the highest levels of lead-based paint. Another source of lead is through solder or plumbing fixtures, especially in plumbing installed before 1930. At times children can also swallow harmful amounts of lead if they play in the dusty areas (even indoors) and then put their clothes, fingers, or even toys in their mouths, or if they eat without first washing their hands.

  • Whenever one feels that his house has excessive lead levels, he can take many measures to reduce the exposure to his family. Lead poisoning can also affect people who work in plumbing, welding, factory work, construction, repairing radiators, painting or renovating houses. Such people should take extra care of what they wear and should change their clothes and shoes before they come home from work. They should see that they wash their clothes separately from the rest of the family.
  • In general, people should take care in managing their kitchen. They should store all food in clean plastic or glass containers. Utensils made up of crystal, pottery, ceramic, silver or pewter may contain lead. One should never cook, serve or store food and drinks in these containers and should always store food in clean plastic containers. Any kind of food should not be stored in cans after it is opened. At time there might be some water pipes which are made with lead, which can get into tap water. In such a case let the cold water run from the valve for at least one minute before drinking it or cooking with it. Hot tap water for cooking or drinking should be always avoided as it may contain lead in it, coming from the pipes.
  • Apart from these precautions, lead poisoning can also be prevented by consuming foods that have a lot of iron. Nutrients like iron helps protect body from lead. Foods like liver, pork, chicken, spinach, beef, tuna, and sardines have a lot of iron. Green leafy vegetables, lentils, beans, peas, and dried fruit such as raisins also contain iron.

Foods containing calcium should also be consumed more. Cheese, milk and yogurt have the most calcium. Many vegetables like spinach and kale also have calcium. Ceramic, crystal, pottery, silver or pewter dishes may contain lead. One should never cook, serve or store food and drinks in these containers.