Substance
Lead and lead salts

Pathology
Heavy metal interaction with sulfhydryl groups and interference with action of numerous enzymes, interference with heme production and survival of red blood cells. Chronic exposure can cause irreversible CNS and developmental effects.

Symptoms
Abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, behavioral changes, ataxia, arthralgias, abdominal or renal colic, anemia, acute encephalopathy, seizures, coma, death.

Emergency Measures
Use whole-bowel irrigation to empty the GI tract shortly after oral ingestions. Chelating agents that remove lead from the blood include Calcium Disodium Versenate, dimercaprol and related compounds, and d-penicillamine. Seizures are treated with benzodiazepines.

Comments
Chronic exposure to lead can produce renal and neuropsychiatric effects, esp. in children. Blood lead levels and erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels are used to gauge the effect of treatment.