Vol. 66 (2026): Bulletin of the Chemists and Technologists of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lead poisoning, also known as plumbism and saturnism. Exposure to lead can occur through contaminated air, water, dust, food or consumer products. Children are at greater risk because they are more likely to put objects in their mouths, such as those containing lead paint, and absorb a large amount of the lead they swallow. Occupational exposure is a common cause of lead poisoning in adults with certain occupations at particular risk. The diagnosis is usually made by measuring lead levels in the blood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC US) have set the reference level for blood lead for adults at 10 µg/dL (10 µg/100g) and for children at 3.5 µg/dL.
Classically, "acute lead poisoning" or "chronic lead poisoning" is defined as exposure to high levels of lead that are usually associated with severe health effects.
Diagnosis and treatment of lead exposure are based on the blood lead level (the amount of lead in the blood), measured in micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (μg/dL). Urine lead levels may also be used, although less frequently. In cases of chronic exposure, lead is often sequestered in the highest concentrations first in the bones, then in the kidneys. If the provider performs a provocative excretion test, or "chelation challenge," a measurement obtained from urine rather than blood is likely to provide the healthcare provider with a more accurate representation of total lead burden.
Lead forms a wide range of compounds and exists in the environment in various forms. Organic lead poisoning is now very rare, as countries around the world have phased out the use of organic lead compounds as gasoline additives. However, such compounds are still used in industrial settings. Organic lead compounds, which readily pass through the skin and respiratory tract, primarily affect the central nervous system.
Lead poisoning is preventable. This involves individual measures such as removing lead-containing items from the home, and workplace interventions such as improved ventilation and supervision.
Lead poisoning can be acute (from intense short-term exposure) or chronic (due to repeated low-level exposure over a long period), but the latter is much more common.
Poisoning by organic lead compounds predominantly manifests with symptoms in the central nervous system, such as insomnia, delirium, cognitive deficits, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. In acute poisoning, typical neurological signs are pain, muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling, and rarely symptoms related to inflammation of the brain. Other acute symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Effects of lead on the mouth include astringency and a metallic taste. Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, poor appetite, and weight loss are common in acute poisoning.
Lead poisoning can cause a wide range of symptoms and signs that vary depending on the person affected and the duration of lead exposure. Symptoms are nonspecific and can be subtle, and someone with elevated lead levels may not have any symptoms. Symptoms usually develop over weeks to months as lead accumulates in the body during chronic exposures, but acute symptoms also occur with short, intense exposures.
