Lead toxicity

Risk Factors

• Occupational exposure to lead
  • Battery manufacturing
  • Plumbing
  • Mining
  • Painting
  • Paper hanging
  • Auto repair

Clinical Presentation

• Acute exposure
  • Abdominal pain and constipation
  • Headache, cognitive deficits, and peripheral neuropathy
  • Myalgias and arthralgias
  • Anemia
  • Anorexia
• Chronic exposure
  • Fatigue and insomnia
  • Hypertension
  • Neuropsychiatric symptoms
  • Nephropathy
  • Miscarriages and stillbirths Investigations
• Labs:
  • CBC showing microcytic anemia
  • Peripheral blood film showing basophilic stippling