LEAD, (VENOUS)

BLOOD LEAD; LEAD SCREEN

Lead is a soft metal present in the environment that is highly poisonous when absorbed into the body, affecting almost every organ. This test measures the current lead level in the blood. Approximately 1% of lead is found free in blood, so the blood lead level (BLL) may not reflect actual lead levels.

You can be exposed to lead by breathing in or ingesting lead dust or by absorbing it through your skin to a lesser degree. In adults, most lead is absorbed via inhalation, but in children most absorption occurs through the digestive tract. Once absorbed, lead is distributed to blood, soft tissues, and bone. Lead can cause damage to the brain, organs, and nervous system.

Even with long-term exposure of low levels, lead can cause irreversible damage without associated physical symptoms. In an infant, lead can cause permanent cognitive impairment, behavioral disorders, and developmental delays. Symptoms of lead toxicity are different depending on whether the exposure to lead was acute or chronic. Acute lead exposure can cause constipation, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, joint/muscle aches, headache, depression, and decreased sex drive. At blood lead levels greater than 150 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL), brain damage may occur, resulting in coma, seizure, or death.