In findings that shed new light on understanding how lead affects the developing brains of children, researchers believe that when lead is introduced into the body in sufficient quantities it displaces zinc and ultimately disrupts brain cell growth.
For proper brain development in children, the body relies on the trace mineral zinc to help regulate genes that coordinate brain cell growth.
Performing experiments in mice, researchers demonstrated that lead indeed interferes with zinc, hindering the genes that regulate the development of the brain.
Lead poisoning is estimated to affect nearly 1 million children in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lead levels have dropped since the 1970s when the substance was banned for use in paint, gasoline and other sources, but children can still develop lead poisoning after exposure to paint chips in older homes, or drinking water from old plumbing that has been soldered with lead.
Even low levels of lead are harmful and are associated with
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology July, 2000;166:1-12.
Ah, the ever important mineral zinc. It is such a critically important mineral and so many of us are deficient in it, especially children. I find it fascinating that the mechanism of lead toxicity may be related to zinc. The implication of this finding is that zinc is clearly indicated in the treatment of lead toxicity. Zinc replacement is also very important in the treatment of mercury toxicity as most of the chelating agents remove zinc.
When supplementing zinc it is important to have some system of assaying input. It is very easy to create a zinc/copper imbalance. There are a number of systems that can do this. The simplest would be hair analysis from a good lab. One could also analyze red blood cell levels. And, in proficient hands, energetic muscle testing seems to work quite nicely.
Lead is a very dangerous substance and exposure should be minimized as much as possible.
There is plenty of evidence that lead may have some causal effect in relation to ADHD. One author of a previous study states:
Similar to the effects observed in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), experimental animals exposed to lead (Pb) exhibit behaviors attributed to "impulsivity" and 'inability to inhibit inappropriate responding.'" (Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1998 Jun;60(2):545-52)
Another study examined the lead concentrations in children's hair samples and compared them the attention-deficit behaviors. The authors state:
The striking dose-response relationship between levels of lead and negative teacher ratings remained significant ... An even stronger relationship existed between physician-diagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and hair lead.... There was no apparent 'safe' threshold for lead. Scalp hair should be considered a useful clinical and epidemiologic approach for the measurement of chronic low-level lead exposure in children. (Arch Environ Health 1996 May-Jun;51(3):214-20).
It has also been shown that the chemicals used to fluoridate a vast majority of fluoridated water supplies can increase children's uptake of lead.
We have also previously reported about the possible lead dangers in candles with metallic wicks, so be sure to avoid these.
Related Articles
LOW VITAMIN D AND C INTAKE AFFECT LEAD LEVELS Low Calcium Intake Raises Kids Lead Poisoning Risk Zinc May Prevent Pneumonia, Diarrhea In Children
LOW VITAMIN D AND C INTAKE AFFECT LEAD LEVELS
Low Calcium Intake Raises Kids Lead Poisoning Risk
Zinc May Prevent Pneumonia, Diarrhea In Children
Return to Table of Contents Issue 172