What Harm Can Lead Cause?

Children with lead poisoning often exhibit delays in normal development such as learning to speak and sit up. Elevated levels of lead in the bloodstream are also associated with behavioral problems such as aggressiveness, destructiveness, and hyperactivity. Other symptoms include central nervous system damage, lack of appetite, sleeplessness, delayed reaction times, anemia, and impaired metabolism of Vitamin D.

Cognitive deficits caused by lead poisoning can affect many aspects of a child's learning abilities often resulting in a decline in academic achievement, even an inability to complete high school. Indeed, damage to a developing brain can make the difference between a child being at the low end of normal intelligence and one who is ostensibly impaired, and in need of special education. Moreover, people, who were poisoned by lead as children, often earn less money and have more job related difficulties than others, who have not been similarly affected.