Lead Paint Attorney

Lead Poisoning

Lead paint was used as a white pigment in most buildings until the 1970s since the metal-based paint increased opacity and resistance to UV radiation. However, lead is very toxic to the human body and can prove harmful to people who come into contact with lead paint. As lead white ages it can become sweet to the taste, and children may lick or chew woodwork with lead paint.

Lead paint has been linked to a variety of health issues and neurological problems, including nausea, headache, abdominal pain, irritability, insomnia, and in extreme cases, seizure and coma. Lead is particularly toxic to children, whose bodies are especially suseptible to exposure. Lead poisoning has been implicated in a variety of childhood problems, including hyperactivity and distraction, learning disorders, developmental issues, and at high levels, permanent brain damage and even death in young children. In fact, lead poisoning is one of the most common preventable poisonings of childhood.

The dangers of lead paint were widely known by the 1960s. Paint manufacturers changed their formulas to not contain any lead, and legislation was passed in 1978 that outlawed the use of lead paint in the United States. Generally, homes older than 1960 are certain to contain lead paint, homes built from 1960 to 1965 are considered likely to contain lead paint, buildings built between 1966 and 1978 are not likely to contain lead paint, and those built after 1978 probably do not contain lead paint.

Lead Poisoning Symptoms

Lead poisoning occurs from the high toxicity of lead and is caused by increased blood serum lead levels in the body. The toxicity of lead has been known for thousands of years, and today the majority of lead poisoning victims are children. Lead poisoning symptoms include gastrointestinal problems, neurological problems, kidney complications, reproductive problems, and developmental problems.

Gastrointestinal lead poisoning symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, poor appetite, vomiting, and weight loss. Neurological problems such as reduced IQ, abdominal pain, nausea, irritability, excessive lethargy or hyperactivity, insomnia, seizure, headache, and coma are also associated with lead poisoning. Developmental problems such as extreme learning disabilities among children are also symptoms of lead poisoning.

Lead Poisoning Side Effects

Lead poisoning side effects are very dangerous to people of all ages. Lead poisoning is caused by increased lead levels in the blood and can lead to side effects such as gastrointestinal problems, neurological problems, kidney problems, reproductive problems, and developmental problems.

Lead poisoning side effects may include gastrointestinal complications such as constipation, abdominal pain, poor appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and vomiting. Neurological complications such as nausea, irritability, reduced IQ, excessive hyperactivity or lethargy, insomnia, coma, headache, and seizure may also result. However, some of the most life-altering and unfortunate lead poisoning side effects are developmental problems such as learning disabilities in children.

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