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Health Effects

Lead is toxic to the human body. The effects of lead exposure are often silent, so even those who seem healthy may be affected. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses a blood lead reference value of 3.5 ug/dL (micrograms per deciliter) to identify children with higher levels of lead in their blood, there is no safe level of lead.¹

Contents

How Lead Affects the Body

Lead enters the body when it is inhaled or swallowed. Once in the body, lead can travel through the bloodstream and build up in organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. It can also settle in bones and teeth, where it can remain for decades.² Since the body cannot easily remove lead, even small amounts can cause long-term or permanent health effects. 

Several factors influence how seriously a child may be affected, including²:

  • Age (younger children absorb more lead)
  • Nutritional status 
  • Sources of lead exposure
  • How long they were exposed
  • Any underlying health conditions

Health Effects by Life Stage 

Children

Children under six years old are especially vulnerable to lead exposure because their brains and bodies are still developing. Their frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors also increase their risk of swallowing lead dust from contaminated household spaces and items.² Lead can affect children in different ways depending on how much they are exposed to and how long the exposure lasts. 

Short-term, high exposure (acute lead poisoning)

Very high levels of lead over a short period of time can cause sudden symptoms, such as3,4:

  • Metallic taste in the mouth
  • Stomach pain, cramping (often severe), nausea, and vomiting
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Feeling unusually tired or irritable
  • Headaches
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle weakness
  • Behavior changes like confusion or fussiness

When left untreated, severe cases of acute lead poisoning can lead to3,4:

  • Bluish gray discoloration on the gums (known as Burton’s Line)  
  • Seizures
  • Difficulty walking or talking
  • Extreme sleepiness
  • Coma

Long-term or repeated exposure 

Even at low levels, over time lead in children can²: 

  • Hurt the brain, kidneys, and nervous system
  • Slow down growth and development
  • Make it hard to learn
  • Damage hearing and speech
  • Cause behavior problems

These health effects can lead to²:

  • Lower IQ
  • Decreased ability to pay attention
  • Underperformance in school

Pregnant and Breastfeeding Persons

Past or current exposure to lead during pregnancy can affect the health and development of an unborn child. Lead crosses the placenta through the bloodstream, which means that even low levels can impact critical stages of growth.5 When the body’s calcium levels are low, lead stored in a parent’s bones can also be released during pregnancy and breastfeeding and be passed on to the baby. 

Lead exposure during pregnancy can cause5:

  • Increased risk of miscarriage 
  • Pre-term birth or stillbirth
  • Low birth weight
  • Damage to the baby’s brain, kidneys, and nervous system
  • Long-term learning and behavior problems for the child

Adults

Lead exposure can cause a wide range of health effects in adults. Since lead stored in the body can accumulate over time, adults may continue to experience health impacts from exposure that occurred during childhood or from ongoing exposure at home, work, or through hobbies.3 

Short-term, high exposure may cause3:

  • Metallic taste
  • Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Dehydration, headache, exhaustion, irritability, or weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Memory problems
  • Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet

Long-term exposure may lead to3:

  • Abdominal pain, nausea, or constipation
  • Irritability, depression, or mood changes
  • Difficulty concentrating, distraction, or forgetfulness
  • Increased blood pressure

Chronic or past exposure may also contribute to3,6-7:

  • Decreased lung function
  • Decreased kidney function
  • Increased risk of cardiovascular disease 
  • Bone or tooth loss
  • More frequent infections
  • Fertility problems in both men and women

What You Can Do

Many children who are exposed to lead may not look, act, or feel sick. The only way to know if your child has been exposed to lead is by asking your provider for a blood lead test. You can ask your child’s healthcare provider for a lead test at any routine visit. They can help recommend treatment if your child has been exposed to lead. Children should be tested at 12 and 24 months, or at least once by six years old. 

Prevention is the best form of treatment. Simple precautions and lifestyle changes can help protect you and your family from lead exposure before harm is done.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Updates Blood Lead Reference Value. April 2, 2024. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/php/news-features/updates-blood-lead-reference-value.html 
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lead Exposure Symptoms and Complications. April 10, 2024. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/symptoms-complications/index.html 
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of Lead Exposure. April 11, 2024. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/lead/signs-symptoms/index.html 
  4. Morita T, Nishizawa T, Morikawa T. Burton line and basophilic stippling in lead poisoning. CMAJ. 2024 Apr 15;196(14):E487.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk Factors and Pregnancy. March 13, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/risk-factors/pregnancy.html 
  6. Harari F, Sallsten G, Christensson A, et al. Blood Lead Levels and Decreased Kidney Function in a Population-Based Cohort. Am J Kidney Dis. 2018;72(3):381-389. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2018.02.358
  7. Pan Z, Gong T, Liang P. Heavy Metal Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease. Circ Res. 2024;134(9):1160-1178. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.323617