Lead exposure is an important health concern for children AND adults
Aged to imperfection
For most of us, it was a pretty mild winter, but not for Marjorie.
My friend Marjorie took a bad slip on the ice this past winter. She landed right on her tail on an icy step. Her thigh also took a bad bump on the metal railing.
And she was delighted.
You see, Marjorie is in her mid-60s. So to take a slip like that and come up with a couple of bruises is very encouraging. No broken leg. No broken hip. Delightful!
That’s a tough way to test bone strength. But as Marjorie said, “I’ll take it.”
There’s one other way Marjorie’s bones could negatively impact her health. And for her, and others her age, it’s probably the last thing they would suspect.
First the bad news…then the good
You hear a lot about lead exposure effects on kids. Those effects get much less attention in adults.
As we age, lead is stored in bones. Over the past decade, researchers have found that bones release lead into the bloodstream along with calcium. Three events prompt this release: pregnancy, menopause, and aging.
The phase-out of leaded gasoline parallels a decline in lead blood levels among children and women of childbearing age. But many of us came of age long before unleaded gas and paint. And that lead stored in our bones poses dangers.
For instance, here’s a list of health risks associated with lead exposure. Notice how many of them are conditions we typically associate with aging.
- Fatigue
- Joint and muscle aches
- Anemia
- Memory and learning difficulties
- Reduced cognitive function
- Difficulty sleeping
- Impaired motor skills
- Decreased sexual drive
- Decreased sperm production
- High blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Increased risk of miscarriage
- Behavioral problems
Okay, that’s the bad news.
Here’s the good: calcium supplements reduce calcium leaching from bones. And calcium supplements also happen to reduce lead leaching. Research shows that a daily dose of 1,200 mg of calcium significantly lowers blood levels of lead in nursing mothers.
There’s just one catch. Some calcium supplements contain lead.
A U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) symbol on the label indicates that a calcium supplement is lead-free. But not all lead-free products carry the symbol, because it’s voluntary. This can be a little confusing, but I found two lead-free brands of calcium: Citracal and Nature Made.
Sources:
“Where Does Lead Go? Into Bones” Liz Szabo, USA Today, 10/30/07, usatoday.com
“Lead – Health Effects” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, osha.gov
