How Do People Get Lead-Poisoned?

Information by State  Print version   In This Section Lead and Its Health Effects   What are the Effects of Lead Poisoning on Health?   Who is at Greatest Risk of Lead Poisoning?   How Do People Get Lead-poisoned?   What is Lead-Based Paint and What is a Lead Hazard?

Lead enters the body through a number of different pathways. The three major pathways are:

1. Eating or inhaling lead-contaminated dust or fumes. This is a primary pathway by which lead enters the body. Poisoning can occur when lead-contaminated dust particles are ingested or inhaled. Children are likely to ingest dust through normal hand-to-mouth activities. Adults are likely to ingest or inhale it when proper precautions are not taken during renovation or rehabilitation activities.
   
   
2. Eating or inhaling lead-contaminated paint chips. Poisoning can occur when paint chips containing lead are eaten. Children in particular may ingest lead-contaminated paint chips through normal hand-to-mouth activity.
   
   
3. Eating lead-contaminated soil. Lead-contaminated soil can be ingested when children play outside and engage in normal hand-to-mouth activity or when people track soil inside where it mixes with household dust.

NOTE: A Blood Test is the ONLY way to confirm lead poisoning.