Lead is a soft, blue-gray metal.

It is found at low concentrations in the earth’s crust predominantly as

lead sulphide (galena), but the widespread occurrence of lead in the environment is largely the result of
anthropogenic (human) activity. The utility of lead and lead compounds were discovered in prehistoric
times.

Lead has been used in plumbing and tableware since the time of the Roman Empire. Lead usage
increased progressively with industrialisation and rose dramatically with the widespread use of the
automobile in the twentieth century. Lead has found major uses in pipes and plumbing, pigments and
paints, gasoline additives, construction materials, and lead–acid batteries. The uses of lead in pipes,
paints, and gasoline additives have resulted in substantial introductions of lead into the environment
and human exposure, and are being phased out in many countries. The predominant use of lead is now
in lead–acid batteries and, to a lesser extent, in construction materials and lead-based chemicals.
Inorganic Lead.

The most important routes of absorption of inorganic lead are ingestion via the gastrointestinal tract
(often because of poor hygiene, not washing hands before eating and drinking after handling lead) and
inhalation of dust, fumes, or vapour into the lungs. The effects are cumulative (lead is not easily
excreted from the body). If lead levels get too high it can cause symptoms such as dizziness, tiredness,
cramps, headaches even and anaemia. Continuous uncontrolled exposure can cause more serious
symptoms such as kidney damage, nerve and brain damage, infertility.

Organic Lead.

Organic lead compounds such as tetra-ethyl and tetra-methyl lead appreciably declined with the demise
of leaded petrol (as of June 2016, only Algeria, Yemen and Iraq continued widespread use of leaded
gasoline). Potential higher exposure concerned activities involving the blending of the lead into gasoline
and in the cleaning out of leaded gasoline storage tanks.

Organic lead can enter the body through inhalation or ingestion. It is also readily absorbed through the
skin.

Acute exposure to a high level over can cause intoxication, as can lower exposures over a longer period
of time. Milder effects include tiredness, wild dreams, anxiety, trembling and loss of appetite. More
severe intoxication causes episodes of disorientation, hallucinations and intense activity which may
require an individual to be restrained. The episodes may convert in convulsive seizures, which may end
in unconsciousness or death.