What are the effects of high lead levels on children?

There are many trace elements in the human body, and each trace element has its unique function. It is the existence of these trace elements that can maintain the normal daily life of the human body. Sometimes, many children have high lead levels, which is the problem of children exceeding the lead standard. This situation will bring many adverse effects to children, such as lead poisoning, damage to the nervous system, etc. The following is a detailed introduction to the effects of high lead content on children.

When lead is absorbed into the human body through the respiratory tract and digestive tract, its effects on the body are systemic and multi-systemic. Depending on the presence or absence of clinical manifestations, childhood lead poisoning is divided into symptomatic lead poisoning and asymptomatic lead poisoning (or subclinical lead poisoning).

1. Nervous system: irritability, hyperactivity, short attention span, aggressive behavior, slow reaction, drowsiness, movement disorders. Severe cases may include mania, delirium (a temporary neurological disorder characterized by confusion, bewilderment, incoherent speech, restlessness, agitation, and often delusions or hallucinations), visual impairment, and cranial nerve paralysis. Blood lead level is 1000

ug/L (4.826umol/L), symptoms of lead encephalopathy such as headache, vomiting, convulsions, coma, and even death may occur.

2. Digestive system: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc.

3. Blood system: microcytic hypochromic anemia, etc.

4. Cardiovascular system: hypertension and arrhythmia.

5. Urinary system: aminoaciduria, glucosuria, and hyperphosphaturia in the early stage; in the late stage, patients may experience symptoms of renal failure such as azotemia.

Subclinical lead poisoning mainly affects children's intellectual behavioral development and physical growth. Due to the lack of clinical manifestations sufficient to attract the attention of parents and pediatricians, it is often easily ignored. By the time it is discovered, the toxic effects of lead are difficult to reverse. Its hidden and progressive pathological characteristics make it more harmful to children's health. Therefore, it is the focus of research on childhood lead poisoning.

The metabolic half-life of lead in the human body is 1460 days. The long-term accumulation of lead that enters the human body every day can cause chronic lead poisoning. People will experience symptoms of neurasthenia such as fatigue, lack of energy, inattention, headache, dizziness, insomnia, and dreaminess, as well as mental or emotional changes such as mild excitement, irritability, anxiety, and hysterical attacks. There may also be gastrointestinal symptoms, such as loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, etc. In addition, men may have decreased libido and impotence, and women may have menstrual disorders. It can also cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases in middle-aged and elderly people.