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Although residential use of lead-based paint was banned in 1978, nearly one million children under the age of six in the U.S. have lead poisoning today. About 12.5 million houses constructed before the ban contained lead-based paint. Lead exposure can poison adults, but children are at a much higher risk.

Lead poisoning in children

Very young children have a double whammy when it comes to lead. They are more likely to get lead poisoning because they ingest their environments. They put everything in their mouths and they touch everything around them and then put their fingers in their mouths. Children exposed to lead suffer more harm than adults. Lead poisoning in children can cause:

• Learning disabilities

• Language and speech problems

• Neurological damage

• Hearing damage

• Poor muscle coordination

• Decreased bone and muscle growth

• Damage to internal organs

• Behavioral problems

• Seizures

• Death

Lead poisoning in adults

Children are at a greater risk, but lead poisoning is still very serious for adults, and can be fatal. Lead poisoning in adults can cause:

• High blood pressure

• Fatigue

• Memory loss

• Inability to concentrate

• Digestive problems

• Severe abdominal pain

• Neurological disorders

• Muscle and joint pain

• Damage to the reproductive system

• Cataracts

Symptoms

The symptoms of lead poisoning can point to a host of problems making them very misleading. Typically symptoms do not appear until lead levels are dangerously high and damage has already been done. Symptoms of lead poisoning include:

• Lethargy

• Irritability

• Abdominal pain

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Anemia

Who is responsible for lead poisoning?

Narrowing down the responsible parties can be very difficult. In most cases manufacturers of lead-based paint are to blame, and it can be very hard to figure out who made the paint that caused the problem. When products cause harm, but the harm cannot be specifically traced from the victim to a single manufacturer, market-share liability can be the means to compensation. Market-share liability holds all manufacturers responsible for harm in direct proportion to their share of the market for the product.

In some cases responsible parties can include:

• Landlords

• Hospitals

• Schools

• Other government entities

If you or a loved one has been harmed or killed by lead poisoning, contact an experienced toxic exposure attorney today.

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