Water Health Educator
Water Health Educator
Promoting advocacy for access to clean water
Exposure: Lead
Health Implications of Lead Contamination
by Ghaida Alsadah
The Juxtaposition in India’s Lead Problem
by Jason Zheng
On November 2016, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Government of India passed the G.S.R. 409(E) [08-04-2016]: Regulation on Lead contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules. This prohibited the manufacture, trade, import and export of household and decorative paints that contains lead or lead components in excess of 90 parts per million (ppm). This action was taken to create public awareness and the precautionary measures need to be taken to prevent lead poisoning. Lead poisoning accounts for about 0.6% of the global of disease. It is one of the most common disease of toxic environmental origins.
Lead is a natural reoccurring metal that is found in the Earth's crust. It can be described as soft, malleable, and has a low melting point. It can be merged with other metals to create alloys. Lead has a variety of usage, ranging from batteries for motor vehicles, pigments, paints, solder, stained glass, lead crystal glassware, ammunition, ceramic glazes, jewelry, toys, some cosmetic and traditional medicines. As well, drinking water supplied through led pipes or pipes joined with lead solder may contain lead, and cause humans to suffer from lead intoxication.
Lead is considered as a toxicant that increases in quantity as it dwells in the human body over time. It can also impact multiple body systems, ranging from neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, renal, and hematologic systems. Symptoms of lead exposure many vary from one adult to another, but it will increase the risk of developing high blood pressure and kidney damages. For pregnant women, it can put them at high risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight and birth malformations. Exposure for children at young ages can lead to permanent damages to their health. In addition, we have not yet established the "safe level" of lead exposure humans can handle.
Blood concentration as low as 5 µg/dl can negatively impact the intellectual abilities for children. As well behavior development and learning problems. In 2018, a meta-analysis study by the Macquarie University found that there is a total of 4.9 DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) which measures the overall disease burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill health, disability, and early death. Another word, 4.9 million years lost due to health illness, disability or early death caused by high blood lead levels.
Phasing out lead in petroleum is one of the major public health accomplishments, but due to the increasing demands for alternative energy vehicles from automakers (to name a few: Tesla, Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, and Ford), the global consumption of lead continues also increases. A large number of the population in India rely on motorbikes or cars as sources of transportation, given that the battery life is only two years, there are a significant number of used lead batteries recycled each year. These are often processed informally with little or no pollution controls, which results in contamination across urban areas.
The global constant needs to mine, smelt, manufacture, and recycling lead, and the continuous usage of leaded paint, gasoline, and aviation fuel are all culprits of environmental contamination. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme formed the “Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint” with the mission of phasing out the manufacturing and sales of leaded paint and to remove the risk involved with these categories of paints.
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The Hidden Oral Health Effects of Lead Exposure
Layan Dweik
Lead is a toxic metal that remains a persistent public health concern due to its widespread presence in the environment. Although regulations have reduced exposure over time, lead can still be found in older paint, contaminated soil, drinking water, and certain imported consumer products. According to the EPA, lead exposure can occur without a person even realizing it, as it is often invisible and can enter the body through inhalation or ingestion (EPA). While lead is widely recognized for its harmful effects on the brain and other organ systems, its impact on oral health receives far less attention. Because teeth and surrounding oral tissues are directly affected by environmental exposures, lead represents an often-overlooked concern in dental health.
Lead exposure can affect oral health in several ways, making it relevant to dentistry as well as broader public health. Research has shown that lead can accumulate in calcified tissues such as teeth and bones, where it may interfere with normal development and long-term oral health. As the review explains, lead exposure can “alter salivary gland function, affecting salivary pH and composition,” which is significant because saliva plays a key role in protecting teeth against acid damage and bacterial growth (Khalid & Abdollahi, 2020). Lead may also interfere with enamel mineralization, weakening tooth structure over time and making teeth more vulnerable to disease. These findings show that lead’s impact extends beyond general systemic health and can directly influence the oral environment.
Beyond changes to the oral environment, lead exposure has also been linked to specific dental conditions, particularly tooth decay. A recent systematic review found that “current evidence suggests that children’s exposure to lead may heighten the risk of caries” (NIH). Researchers suggest this relationship may stem from lead’s interference with enamel formation, which can weaken tooth structure and make teeth less resistant to decay. Because enamel does not regenerate once damaged, disruptions during tooth development may have long-term consequences.
Some research has also connected lead exposure to periodontal inflammation and other oral complications, suggesting its effects are not limited to cavities alone. While oral disease is often associated with factors such as poor oral hygiene or excessive sugar intake, environmental toxic exposures may also play a meaningful and often overlooked role in oral health outcomes.
Although lead exposure is most often discussed in relation to neurological or systemic health, its effects on oral health deserve greater attention. Environmental exposures can influence oral disease risk in ways that may not be immediately obvious, making this an important consideration for dental professionals and public health practitioners alike. As conversations around prevention and lead safety continue, the connection between environmental health and oral health should not be overlooked.
References
Khalid, M., & Abdollahi, M. (2020). Role of lead in dental diseases. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C, 38(4), 329–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/26896583.2020.1834313
Tapalaga, G., Stanga, L., & Sîrbu, I. (2025). Systematic Review of Lead Exposure and Its Effects on Caries and Aesthetics in Children and Adolescents. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(12), 1460. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121460
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Learn about lead. https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead