We all know that lead exposure is bad for our health and can be fatal as well especially for kids hence the need to ban lead products like paints. There’s an all-out war against lead products particularly those used in production of children’s necessities. Primarily, this is due to the fact that children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning than adults and many died from it years ago. Years back, lead was not strictly regulated and some traces of it ended up in our food and personal care products including cosmetics and many more. Although most of the adults exposed in those years suffered only slight discomfort as opposed to what it did to our children, it was not certain then of lead exposure’s long term effect to survivors, if there’s indeed one.
Certain government and health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been taking all safety measures to prevent further lead exposures. Unfortunately, lead cannot be prevented all together. With reduced lead exposure, its effect is made more terrifying than ever. Subtle lead intoxication in children can cause lower IQs, shorter attention span, erratic behavior or uncontrollable mood swings resulting to unpredictable behavior. Although the connection of lead to ADHD is not established or linked in any way, we should take note that there are certain similarities of the symptoms to the said disorder. Brain damage is the ultimate result of lead poisoning to children which includes convulsions and coma. Other known ill-effects of lead to human are developmental problems, mental retardation, hindered growth and fertility problems, all connected to the brain and the endocrine system of our bodies.
Now, you can add Alzheimer’s disease to this long and endless list. Recent laboratory study established the connection between early lead exposures and Alzheimer’s disease later in life—a fact that has been long suspected but was not proven until now. Think of the Incredible Hulk—only this thing will not make you stronger but does the exact opposite.
This study was conducted in Rhode Island by a doctor named Nasser H. Zawia, the principal investigator of the case. It started in 1980 when a group of infant monkey was given infant formulas containing lead levels which were considered safe back then. After years of studying their behavioral patterns, the monkeys died and their brains were studied by the group. Every single one of the monkeys’ brains developed plaques—a sure sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The study therefore concluded that childhood exposure to lead can eventually result in brain plaques, common to Alzheimer’s disease patient, manifesting much later in life.
It was also said that upon lead contamination by way of oral consumption or inhalation, lead settles in the bones and stays there for undetermined amount of time. Some people who died and were tested for lead poisoning—bones and all—still showed lead levels after so many years of being buried underground. Overtime, the lead content in our bones accumulates and there are speculations of spills and transfers from bone to other vital organs inside our bodies. It is highly recommended to increase calcium intake to reduce lead absorption of the bones.
Like in any other event, exposure to toxins has lasting effects on humans. Causes and cures for brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease still remain a mystery to us and although claims are made in regular basis, it looks like we are just chipping the tip of the stone. We only have circumstantial evidences and links to guide us by and we don’t have anything else to do but heed the call.
