Lead Poisoning – UPSC Prelims

Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals causing health effects.

Lead in the body is distributed to the brain, liver, kidney and bones. It is stored in the teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time.

Uses: Lead has been used in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, gasoline, batteries, ammunition and cosmetics.

Sindoor (vermillion), a traditional cosmetic powder used by women in the Indian subcontinent and Ghasard, an Indian folk medicine in the form of a brown powder used as a tonic also contains lead.

Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint: It is a cooperative initiative jointly led by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme to prevent children’s exposure to lead from paints containing lead and to minimize occupational exposures to lead paint.

Lead poisoning or chronic intoxication is caused by the absorption of Lead in the system and is characterised especially by fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, anaemia, a dark line along the gums, and muscle paralysis or weakness of limbs.

Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

Lead exposure also causes anaemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs.

More than three quarters of global lead consumption is for the manufacture of lead-acid batteries for motor vehicles.