What are some of the health effects of lead?

Answer: Lead is known to cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk from exposure lead-based paint because they crawl on the floor and they put their hands and other items which can have lead-based paint dust on them into their mouths. Because their bodies are still growing, children tend to absorb more lead than adults.

Children exposed to lead can suffer from:

Lowered IQ
Damage to the brain and nervous system
Learning and behavioral difficulties
Slowed growth
Hearing problems
Headaches

Adults can suffer from:

Reproductive problems (in both men and women)
High blood pressure and hypertension
Nerve disorders
Memory and concentration problems
Muscle and joint pain

To learn more about health effects of lead, visit https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead.

Question Number: 23002-21128

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