When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

Lead toxicity

Last reviewed: 3 Apr 2025
Last updated: 09 Jun 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • family history of lead poisoning or parental work with lead
  • cognitive impairment (children)
  • behavioral changes (children)
  • headaches (children)
  • clumsiness and agitation (children)
  • loss of appetite (children)
  • constipation (children)
  • somnolence (children)
  • altered mental state
  • cerebellar signs
  • seizures
  • coma
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • colicky abdominal pain (adults)
  • hypertension (adults)
Full details

Risk factors

  • age 9 to 36 months
  • housing with lead hazards
  • occupational lead exposure
  • lead-contaminated water supplies
  • low socioeconomic status
  • hobbies working with lead
  • pica
  • use of folk medications
  • fetal exposure
  • mineral-deficient and high-fat diets
  • bullet firing ranges
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • whole-blood lead level
  • complete blood count
  • serum ferritin
Full details

Tests to avoid

  • post-chelator challenge urinary metal testing
  • hair or nail testing
  • heavy metal screening test
Full details

Tests to consider

  • 24-hour urine lead with chelation
  • abdominal radiographs
  • nerve conduction studies
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

all patients

Contributors

Authors

J. Routt Reigart, MD

Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston

SC

Disclosures

JRR declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD

NSF International Chair

Department of Environmental Health Sciences

Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Internal Medicine

University of Michigan Schools of Public Health and Medicine

Ann Arbor

MI

Disclosures

HH is an author of a reference cited in this topic. HH has received research funding greater than 6 figures USD.

Rose H. Goldman, MD, MPH

Chief

Occupational & Environmental Medicine

Cambridge Health Alliance

Associate Professor of Medicine

Harvard Medical School

Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

Harvard School of Public Health

Boston

MA

Disclosures

None disclosed.

Alison Jones, MD, FRCPE, FiBIOL, FRCP, FRACP

Dean

School of Medicine

Campbelltown Campus

University of Western Sydney

Australia

Disclosures

AJ declares that she has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Understanding blood lead levels. Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) workplace safety & health topics. Apr 2023 [internet publication].Full text

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Blood lead levels: United States, 1988-1991. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1994;43:545-548.Full text  Abstract

Harvey B, ed. Managing elevated blood lead levels among young children: recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. Atlanta, GA: CDC; 2002.Full text

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adult blood lead epidemiology and surveillance - United States, 2008-2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011 Jul 1;60(25):841-5.Full text  Abstract

Mahaffey KR. Nutrition and lead: strategies for public health. Environ Health Perspect. 1995;103(suppl 6):191S-196S.Full text  Abstract

Nussbaumer-Streit B, Mayr V, Dobrescu AI, et al. Household interventions for secondary prevention of domestic lead exposure in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Oct 6;10:CD006047.Full text  Abstract

Yeoh B, Woolfenden S, Lanphear B, et al. Household interventions for preventing domestic lead exposure in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(12):CD006047.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Differentials

    • Iron deficiency anemia
    • Non-lead peripheral neuropathy
    • Arsenic poisoning
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Childhood lead poisoning prevention
    • WHO guideline for clinical management of exposure to lead
    More Guidelines
  • padlock-lockedLog in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer