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Description

The number of possible sources of lead exposure is staggering. Identifying a source of lead exposure can require real detective work. While exposure to lead has been controlled in many developed countries, lead may be found in unexpected areas in Third World countries.


 

Food and water:

(1) food grown in soil contaminated with lead

(2) ground water contaminated with lead

(3) water passing through lead pipes or pipes with lead solder

(4) cooking in pewter or in lead pots

(5) folk medicines

(6) pica or swallowing items

(7) canned food with lead solder

 

Around the home:

(1) lead paint on toys

(2) lead paint on walls

(3) air near lead industries

 

Occupational:

(1) mining

(2) smelting including zinc and copper

(3) recycling

(4) making things that contain lead (paint, pigment, solder, radiators, etc)

(5) plumbing

(6) painting or home renovation

(7) trash burning

(8) old-style printing

(9) welding

(10) demolition

(11) chemists

 

Vehicle maintenance and repair:

(1) leaded gasoline

(2) radiator repair

(3) automobile repair

 

Hobbies:

(1) lead solder in stain glass making

(2) exposure to lead glaze in ceramics or metalworking

 

Substance abuse:

(1) moonshine

(2) methamphetamine

(3) huffing leaded gasoline

(4) old wines with added lead

 

Guns and outdoor activities:

(1) retained bullet

(2) eating meat from an animal with a retained bullet

(3) spending time at a firing range

(4) making lead bullets for muzzle loading guns

(5) making fishing weights

 


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