Signs & Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

The nervous system is the main target of lead toxicity. However, lead can affect nearly every organ and system in the body.

Exposure to lead causes damage to a child’s nervous system and brain.This may cause children to develop cognitive delays like hyperactivity, lowered IQ, and problems with learning and behavior. Kidney damage may also occur in childhood lead poisoning cases because approximately 65% of lead is cleaned and filtered out of the kidneys.

At higher blood lead levels, children may experience headaches, fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Pregnant women with a past or current history of lead exposure are also at high risk and can pass lead to their unborn baby. Lead exposure during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, preeclampsia, and preterm birth, causing birth outcomes such as low-birth weight, and reduction in body length, and head circumference.

See HI-CLPPP’s Lead and Pregnancy Handout for more information.