A study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. investigates the effects different herbal supplements on blood lead levels. Supplements with high heavy metals levels included Ayurvedic herbs, echinacea, ginseng, St. John’s wort, bee pollen, ginko, and nettle.

Lead exposure can result in medical complications, including high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, heart disease and peripheral artery disease. High blood lead levels also pose a risk for women planning to become pregnant. Lead can lead to pregnancy complications for both the mother and the developing child.

“Among adults, the potential implications of low-level lead exposure are most relevant to women of child-bearing age,” study authors write. “As lead is especially harmful to developing nervous systems of fetuses and children and passes through the placenta and breast milk.”

Researchers recruited 6,712 Unites States women in good health who were of reproductive age—20 or more years old. Participants self-reported their vitamin regimen for 30 days, and were divided into groups based on the type of supplements they used.

Women who took these supplements had significantly higher lead levels than women who took other herbal medicines. Blood lead levels of women who took Ayurvedic supplements were 24 percent higher than non-users. St. John’s wort wasn’t far behind with 23 percent higher levels.

Greater lead levels were not seen in individuals who used other supplements, such as garlic. Researchers acknowledge that these supplements can have some beneficial effects on personal health, but recommend firmer regulations.

“Our data suggest testing guidelines for herbal supplements,” they write, “and regulations limiting lead in supplements are needed.”

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dramatically strengthened the national standards for airborne lead particles by slashing the maximum allowable concentration to a tenth of the previous standard set in 1978. On the advice of government science advisers, the new standard was set at 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter of air, which is ten times lower than the previous standard.

For the last few decades, government agencies have been trying to reduce lead exposure in people by removing lead from gasoline, reducing factory emissions, removing lead-based paint from older homes, and other public health interventions.

Lead exposure is a particular problem among children. Those exposed to lead at an early age may develop brain and nervous system damage, have behavior and learning problems, and experience other health problems. Typically, children become exposed to lead by breathing or swallowing lead dust or particles, or by eating contaminated soil or paint chips. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 310,000 American children between 1 and 5 years old have blood lead levels that exceed the public health action standard.

Parents should survey their children’s environment and identify and remove any sources of lead. Methods for minimizing childhood lead exposure include regularly washing of children's hands and toys, reducing indoor dust accumulation, and minimizing their exposure to soil.

For more ideas for lead prevention, join Healia’s Health Community for Lead Poisoning.

_{Photo: Library of Congress, public domain}

The news about high lead levels in popular children’s toys and toy manufacturer recalls has been a hot topic recently. And many of you may feel overwhelmed by the toy recall information and are looking for a central information resource.

A list of recalled toys can be found on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site. Here, you can review a list of toys recalled for high levels of lead. You can also review what toys have been recalled for other health and safety problems such as danger for magnetic ingestion or choking and entrapment hazards. A picture of each toy is available to help you identify the product.

Lead is most often found in paint or dust, but it may also be found in toys and other sources. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that lead can be found in the following sources:

• Traditional home health remedies such as azarcon and greta which are sometimes used for upset stomach or indigestion in the Hispanic community
• Imported candies
• Imported toys and toy jewelry
• Imported cosmetics
• Pottery and ceramics
• Drinking water contaminated by lead leaching from lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures, or valves
• Consumer products, including tea kettles and vinyl mini-blinds  

Children often ingest lead when they place their fingers and lead contaminated objects (such as toys) in their mouths. Prevention is key when dealing with lead exposure and children. If you believe that your child has been exposed to lead, you should contact your child’s physician immediately. A blood test can be performed to determine your child’s blood lead level.

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