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 under six years of age are most at risk from exposure to 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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