Lead is a natural element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. It may be industrially useful, but it can cause devastating effects on humans, animals, and even the environment.
Lead poisoning occurs when lead dust or lead fumes are inhaled. It can happen during the use of leaded gasoline or lead-based paints. Once inhaled, this toxin spreads through the respiratory system and is released into the blood.
According to the CDC, lead poisoning also happens when someone is exposed to high levels of lead over a short span of time. In this scenario, the person may suffer from the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Irritable
- Loss of appetite
- Memory loss
- Pain or tingling in the hands and/or feet
- Weakness
Considering that most of these symptoms can be attributed to something else, lead poisoning is often overlooked. We are also warned that lead poisoning can cause anemia, and kidney and brain damage. If you suspect that a workplace incident led to lead poisoning, you should immediately ask for the legal advice of a lead exposure attorney.
How Devastating Is Lead Poisoning?
The government warns us that exposure to extremely high levels of lead can cause death. Earlier, we also enumerated its numerous effects, which vary from something as mild as loss of appetite to brain damage, such as impaired concentration or cognition. It may even bring about seizures.
Most of the time, the organs are exposed long after the original incident of exposure. It happens because once ingested, lead can be stored in our bones and re-released into the blood. Serious injuries can be long-term and are often life-threatening.
Who Might Be Accountable for Lead Exposure Injuries?
You can point out many possible sources of lead exposure or ingestion. Let us take metal-top dining tables. Some of them contain lead and may present danger to adults and children. In this case, the awyer will hold the manufacturer of the product accountable. This scenario is possible if the company failed to follow lead percentage guidelines.
Another common scenario is lead ingestion from your home. In this situation, your landlord can be held liable for failing to maintain the premises that are up to the code regarding toxic exposure.
Lastly, lead exposure is also common in a work setting, especially for industrial workers who work with metals. In this scenario, the employers can sometimes be held liable for work or industrial injuries due to lead exposure at work. An excellent example would be when the company violates its duty to ensure that the workplace is safe and free of toxic substances. This negligence exposed their employees to unnecessary risks.
Conclusion
According to the National Institute of Health, lead makes up about 0.0013 percent of the earth’s crust. It is not a rare element because you can easily mine it. Thus, this exposes many people. As mentioned earlier, it may be useful for industries, but it is highly toxic.
If your doctor suspects lead exposure as the culprit for your ailments, you should immediately reach out to an experienced accident lawyer especializing in lead exposure. At Ronemus & Vilensky, we take great pride helping victims of injury and malpractice. Contact us today to request a free consultation.