TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Lead, Other Metals, and Chelation Therapy A1 - Kaila, Rahul A1 - Louie, Jeffrey P. A2 - Zaoutis, Lisa B. A2 - Chiang, Vincent W. PY - 2017 T2 - Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine, 2e AB - Lead is a highly toxic metal, and exposure to it can produce a wide range of adverse health effects.1,2 It is a soft, pliable metal that resists corrosion and when ingested, has a sweet taste.3,4 Lead is a ubiquitous environmental containment found in water and soil.1 The most common cause of childhood lead poisoning is ingestion of lead-containing paint chips or lead-contaminated dust as a result of normal hand-to-mouth activity.5,6 Until 1978, lead was commonly used in paints to provide pigment and color stability. Other potential sources include ingestion of drinking water, soil, and food.7 According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), about 25% of the nation’s current housing stock—some 24 million homes—still contains significant lead-based paint hazards.8 Although lead paint that is intact does not pose an immediate concern, lead paint that is deteriorating or is disturbed during repair or renovation activities creates a hazard. There is new evidence that lead poisoning is harmful at blood levels that were once thought safe.9-11 The effects of sustained exposure, such as learning disabilities have been observed in children with lead levels as low as 5 μg/dL, with no evidence of a threshold.11 In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised the definition of lead toxicity and lowered the “normal” blood lead level value to below 5 μg/dL.12 SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/23 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1146123865 ER -