Overview
Lead poisoning, also called plumbism or lead toxicity, is a condition caused by the buildup of lead in the body, usually over months or years. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that was once commonly found in paint, gasoline, water pipes, and many industrial products. When lead enters the body through breathing, swallowing, or skin contact, it can damage nearly every organ system, with the brain, kidneys, blood, and nervous system being most affected. Children are especially vulnerable because their growing bodies absorb lead more easily, and their developing brains are more sensitive to its harmful effects. Symptoms of lead poisoning can be subtle at first and may include tiredness, stomach pain, headaches, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. In children, even low levels of lead exposure can cause learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and slowed growth. At very high levels, lead poisoning can cause seizures, coma, and even death. Chronic exposure can lead to kidney damage, high blood pressure, and anemia. Treatment depends on the level of lead in the blood. The most important step is identifying and removing the source of lead exposure. For mild cases, this alone may be enough. For moderate to severe cases, chelation therapy is used — these are medications that bind to lead in the body and help it get removed through urine. Common chelation agents include succimer (Chemet), edetate calcium disodium (Calcium EDTA), and dimercaprol (BAL in Oil). Early detection and treatment can prevent many of the long-term complications, but some damage, especially to the developing brain in young children, may be permanent.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Fatigue and tirednessStomach pain and crampingHeadachesIrritability and mood changesDifficulty concentrating or paying attentionMemory problemsLoss of appetiteConstipationJoint and muscle painNumbness or tingling in hands and feetAnemia (low red blood cell count)Slowed growth in childrenLearning difficulties in childrenBehavioral problems in childrenHigh blood pressure in adults
Clinical phenotype terms (50)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
2 eventsLuxembourg Institute of Health
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Lead poisoning.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →No actively recruiting trials found for Lead poisoning at this time.
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Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Lead poisoning.
Community
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Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: The α-gal Syndrome - Investigating Immune Reactions to Tick Bites
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Lead poisoning
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
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Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What is my (or my child's) current blood lead level, and what does it mean?,How do we find and remove the source of lead exposure?,Does my child need chelation therapy, and what are the risks and benefits?,Should my child be evaluated for learning or developmental delays?,How often should blood lead levels be rechecked?,Are there dietary changes that can help reduce lead absorption?,Should other family members or siblings also be tested for lead?
Common questions about Lead poisoning
What is Lead poisoning?
Lead poisoning, also called plumbism or lead toxicity, is a condition caused by the buildup of lead in the body, usually over months or years. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that was once commonly found in paint, gasoline, water pipes, and many industrial products. When lead enters the body through breathing, swallowing, or skin contact, it can damage nearly every organ system, with the brain, kidneys, blood, and nervous system being most affected. Children are especially vulnerable because their growing bodies absorb lead more easily, and their developing brains are more sensitive to its harmful
How is Lead poisoning inherited?
Lead poisoning follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Which specialists treat Lead poisoning?
25 specialists and care centers treating Lead poisoning are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.