Saturnism or lead poisoning is seen where lead is present in blood at high levels. If severe enough it may cause irreversible nervous system damage along with serious toxicity to other body organs and systems. Lead is being by humans for thousand years and is part of various products like paints and toys. Lead if ingested at high levels due to acute or chronic exposure to such products may lead to symptoms like vomiting, abdominal pain, mood swings, irritability, lack of proper sleep, hyperactivity, headache, and diarrhea and if severe enough may even lead to death.
Children are particularly at risk to any poisoning including lead because of their immature defense system and organs particular important for detoxification like liver. Children if exposed to high levels of lead either through acute ingestion or by chronic exposure like toys containing lead may have spectrum of ill health effects like behavioral problems, cognitive and learning difficulties, and physical disabilities. The toxic dose for children proposed by CDC is about 10 ug/dl, however, the effects of lead below the level of 10 ug/dl is not fully understood but many researchers have proposed that it is equally dangerous to children. The most dangerous aspect of lead poisoning in children is that once lead enters into the their body, it may take even years to get out of the body and thus pose great threats to child’s health during this period. Children of all ages are equally susceptible to deleterious effects of lead poisoning. Though various products high levels of lead like paint have been made to minimize or eliminate the lead content, lead is still being shown in various other products including toys. Toys being imported from China has shown to contain lead are commonly bought in U.S. for children. Though we have not seen mass epidemic or some set of symptoms, but absence of symptoms in these children does not eliminate the over risk of toxicity because hidden symptoms could be as lethal as visible ones. Medical community is still figuring out the possible tests or protocols to find out the ways for diagnosis of lead toxicity if lead content in body is at low levels. Should we negate the problem because we do not see it or we as parents should do something about it and ask the relevant governmental agencies and concerned departments including healthcare regulating bodies to do something about it? Of course not every toys imported from China contains lead but it is important to filter those manufactures producing lead contaminated toys is important so that we can have safe toys for our children to play with.
