Lead-Teratogen

Teratogens-Lead

Originally, I chose Progestin for this paper. After a week of research, I got nowhere. I decided to go with lead. I knew that several years ago, the government banned the use of lead in paint, but I did not know why. I thought it would be interesting to find out.

Lead is a very common mineral. It can be found in water, ammunition, gasoline, pipes, old paint, batteries, electronics, automobiles, fishing weights, pottery, pesticides, flood waters, and medications. “Because lead is found in many places in our environment, most people have small amounts of lead in their blood” (OTIS, 2005). Lead can be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. In adults, blood lead levels above

25ug/dl (micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood) can cause an increase in blood pressure, stomachaches, tiredness, and hearing problems. People with much higher blood lead levels can have permanent nerve damage, a decrease in blood production, male infertility, or even brain damage. Some studies have shown a correlation between lead and an increased risk of cancer. It is important to keep blood lead levels as low as possible.

Lead can be passed on to a child at and beyond the 12th week of pregnancy.

Prenatally, a child can be affected if the mother’s blood lead level is as low as 10ug/dl.

“The amount of lead in the blood of the mother and baby are almost the same” (OTIS, 2005). The higher the level of lead a fetus is exposed to, the more at risk they are. Small amounts of lead exposed prenatal have been linked to delayed mental development. According to teratology.org, “Lead significantly impairs the timing of cell-cell connections during neurological development”. This affects memory. However, according to Rathus (2006), children with mental development delays at ages 1-2 due to exposure to elevated levels of lead prenatally were able to improve their levels of cognitive functioning by age 6 if they were no longer exposed to lead in their home. Higher levels of lead exposed prenatally can increase the level of developmental delay, and can also cause premature delivery, low birth weight, miscarriage or even stillbirth.

Lead exposure has been less of a problem in recent years. In 1978, a law was passed banning the use of lead in paint. There are also laws in place regarding lead levels in public water and gasoline. Employers have a responsibility to make sure workers are not exposed to unsafe levels of lead.

There are many steps an expecting parent can take to avoid lead exposure. If they use well water they should have it tested. If there is a high level of lead in the water, they

should switch their water source. Bottled water is a good option. There are also public records available regarding the lead amounts in public water. Workplaces most at risk for lead exposure are industrial, such as auto body shops. At work, a person can ask for a copy