Can there be lead deposits in your lungs?

Question:

Answers:
Yes. Lead can get into your lungs in a number of ways:-

* Until a few years back petrol (gas) contained lead because it prevented "pinking" in car engines - an incomplete combustion giving poor engine performance. The exhaust fumes contained lead which could be inhaled into your lungs. Nowadays almost all fuels are lead-free.

* Lead used to be used in the plumbing industry. Pipes were made of it and the joints between pipes were sometimes sealed by heating lead and allowing it to flow into the joint, where it then hardened. Over-heating of the lead was quite easy and this would produce lead vapour which could be inhaled.

* Many paints used to contain lead, particularly exterior paints where the lead would help to act as a preservative on wood. Removing the lead-based paint with a blow-torch would vaporise the lead and again this could be inhaled. Old paint with lead in it may flake off into dust which again could end up in your lungs.

* Anyone working with lead, for example in refining it or roofing churches and other buildings is liable to be exposed to lead particles in the atmosphere which could end up in the lungs.

Lead is highly toxic and causes nerve and brain damage even in comparatively small quantities.

Isn't that the reason for removing lead from petrol?

Yes. From breathing atomized lead particles.

Yes, especially if you are exposed to lead based paint that has been chipping or that is attached to walls under construction. In adult, from what I understand, it is relatively harmless in small quanities.

Can there be lead deposits in your lungs?

Health Resources