Exposure to lead-based paint can lead to a medical condition referred to as lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is also known as saturnism. Increasing amounts of lead in a person’s blood stream will result in lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is very dangerous and has adverse effects.

Exposure to lead paint can occur in many different scenarios. Some of the most common lead poisoning cases are a result of the lead paint that was used on homes over fifty years ago. Often, lead paint will begin to chip away from an old home. The paint chips can come in contact with other random items around the house or outside of the house. Human contact with these items may lead to the ingestion of the lead contaminants.

Another common scenario that leads to lead poisoning is from lead paint found in dust. When the lead paint chips away from the home small dust particles can be found in the air. Inhalation of dust containing small traces of lead may lead to lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning resulting from exposure to lead paint is most common in children. Children have a tendency to get their hands into many different things around the home that could have come in contact with lead paint. Placing their hands in their mouth after coming in contact with an object that has been exposed to the lead paint can result in lead poisoning.

Children that are exposed to lead-based paint usually will suffer from hearing problems, slowed growth, headaches, behavioral and learning disabilities, brain damage, or damage to the nervous system. Some common symptoms of a child that has come into excessive contact with lead-based paint include hyperactivity, hearing and speech difficulties, numerous allergy reactions, ADD, and others.

If you suspect that your home may contain lead paint it may be wise to have it removed by a professional. It is also important to have your children tested for traces of lead in their blood stream. A trip to the doctor is all it takes. The doctor will take a blood sample from the child for testing.

The most common symptoms for adults include high blood pressure, excessive allergy reaction, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, problems with the reproductive system in both men and women, digestive problems, and others.

Other extremely serious conditions resulting from lead exposure include blindness and paralysis. The most serious cases can result in a coma or even death.