Lead (Pb)

These metals can get into your body through your skin, or by eating, drinking, or breathing. Small amounts of these metals are common in your everyday environment and aren't harmful. In larger amounts, they can cause poisoning. The risk of metal poisoning is highest in young children, who can get the metals into their bodies by touching or putting contaminated objects into their mouths.

For lead specifically, a blood lead level shows how much lead has built up in your body. Common sources of lead exposure include old lead-based paint and dust, water from older lead pipes, lead-glazed pottery, some imported cosmetics or remedies, and certain workplaces. In children, even low levels of lead can affect learning, behavior, and growth, and there is no known safe level.

Higher than normal levels of one or more heavy metals may mean you have heavy metal poisoning, but this isn't always the case. If you don't have symptoms, your provider may suggest that you avoid further exposure to the metal and have your levels rechecked at a later time.

For lead, U.S. public-health agencies use reference levels to decide when extra steps are needed. Current guidance is to take action at a blood lead level of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or higher in young children and 5 mcg/dL or higher in older children and adults. These steps may include finding the source of lead, removing the exposure, and follow-up testing.

If your levels are high enough to indicate poisoning, you may need treatment. The most common treatment is chelation therapy, in which medicine that binds to the heavy metals is given by mouth or by injection so the metals can be removed from your body in your urine. Chelation in children is usually considered when the blood lead level is well above 25 mcg/dL.

If your results show normal or low levels of metals, it usually means you don't have heavy metal poisoning. But some metals leave the bloodstream quickly and may still be present in your tissues. If you have symptoms of poisoning, your provider may order tests of your urine, hair, skin, or fingernails.