What Causes Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning basically is a medical condition, also identified as saturnism, plumbism or painter's colic and is caused due to amplified blood lead levels. Lead toxicity was initially identified as early as 2000 BC.

Nicander of Colophon wrote about lead-inducted anaemia and colic during 250 BC. The signs of chronic lead poisoning consist of neurological problems, like reduced IQ, nausea, abdominal pain, irritability, insomnia, surplus lethargy or hyperactivity. Lead poisoning is also linked with gastrointestinal problems, like constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, etc.

In human beings, lead toxicity occasionally results in the development of a bluish line next to the gums. Lead has no identified role in the human body. Nearly all lead poisoning signs are thought to take place by interfering with a vital enzyme Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase.