Lead Poisoning

• Context (TH): Parts of Odisha witnessed lead poisoning.

• Lead is a bluish-white lustrous metal naturally found in the Earth’s crust.
• It is also found in small amounts in air, soil and water.
• It is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity compared to copper, gold, etc.
• Native lead is rare in nature. Currently, lead is usually found in ore with zinc, silver and copper and it is extracted together with these metals.
• It has a relatively low melting point compared to most metals.
• It has good resistance to corrosion, especially in non-acidic environments.
• It is the most dense (non-radioactive) common metal, which makes it invaluable for applications requiring high weight with small volumes.

Sources of Lead Pollution

• Informal and substandard recycling of lead-acid batteries: Lack of vehicle battery recycling regulation in low and middle-income countries has resulted in nearly half of lead-acid batteries being unsafely recycled in the informal economy.
• Lead in water from the use of leaded pipes, lead from active industry (such as mining), lead-based paint and pigments, and leaded gasoline.
• Lead solder in food cans, as well as in spices, cosmetics, Ayurveda medicines, toys, and other consumer products.

Impacts of Lead Exposure

• Exposure to lead causes lead poisoning, also known as Plumbism and Saturism.
• WHO has identified lead as 1 of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern.

• Other unwanted effects:
  • Disruption of the biosynthesis of haemoglobin and anaemia
  • A rise in blood pressure
  • Kidney damage
  • Disruption of nervous systems
  • Brain damage
  • Declined fertility of men through sperm damage
  • Diminished learning abilities of children
  • Behavioural disruptions in children, such as aggression, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity

• Long-term impact: Anaemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity, and toxicity to the reproductive organs.