Dartmouth Toxic Metal Research

Lead Links

ToxFAQs for Lead This site on lead, in a "frequently asked questions" format, was produced by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of the ATSDR is "to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment." The FAQ is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's most frequently asked questions about lead. Includes phone contacts for additional information and a listing of related resources.

WebElements Periodic Table: Lead Includes extensive information on the chemical properties of lead, from the simple to the complex. Designed for students and for curious, somewhat science-savvy citizens. Includes geology, bond enthalpies, and uses, and details properties, compounds, and interdisciplinary value.

The Providence Journal This Providence Journal site which won the Sevellon Brown Award examines the young lives of some of lead paint's victims- lives dramatically limited and, in one New Hampshire case, ended by a poison most of their parents were never taught to fear.

Lead Case Study — U.S. Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) This ATSDR case study, written for primary care providers and therefore full of medical terminology, provides comprehensive information on risk, exposure, fate, effects, and treatment of lead. Set in a generalized urban area, the case study follows the diagnosis and treatment of a young child exposed to lead via a variety of pathways. At times the medical terminology may impede complete understanding for those without an MD degree, but most of the information is simple and direct. Providers may use this site as continuing education credit, authorized by AMA, AAFP, ACEP, and AOA.

Chelation Therapy — American Cancer Society Chelation therapy is often prescribed to treat lead and other metal toxicity. This essay gives a good overview of what chelation therapy is and what it does, its side effects, the history of its use, and problems or complications that may result.

Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development hosts this page that lists “Simple Steps to Protect Your Family From Lead Hazards,” symptoms of lead poisoning, information about why children are more at-risk than adults and links to other pages about lead in the home. A good place for general interest information about harmful lead exposure and especially pertinent for parents living in houses built before 1978 who may be at risk from deteriorating lead-based paints. The site also provides a text-only version for those with slow-speed Internet connections.

Lead-Based Paint in Your Home: Safety Alert — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from "unreasonable risk of injury or death." This site warns of the dangers of lead-based paints, provides information about testing for lead in the home, outlines steps to reduce exposure to the lead in old paint, and gives guidelines for removing lead-based paint. This article is straightforward and easy to read.

Lead in the Environment — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency This site by the United States Environmental Protection Agency provides general information about why lead is a problem, the sources of lead poisoning, how to reduce the risk of lead poisoning, and suggested reading and references for further research. The information is practical and easy to understand but is presented in a cumbersome way. Some pages have large pictures that take a long time to load.

Lead In Your Drinking Water — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The United States Environmental Protection Agency maintains this site containing general information about how lead gets in drinking water, steps to reduce lead exposure and answers some frequently asked questions about lead in drinking water, such as “How can I tell if my water contains too much lead?” “Does my home's age make a difference?,” and “Why is lead a problem?”

Safety and Health Topics: Lead — U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)This page specifically targets the industrial workplace as a source of lead, rather than lead-based paint or other household mechanisms. Detailed papers on poisoning recognition, lead level analysis, control methods, regulations, and training needs are presented here in a fairly easy-to-find format. They may not be easy to read once you’re there, however. The language is generally very technical and legalistic.

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention This site from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is primarily a links page to fact sheets and news stories regarding lead in children’s health. There is a great deal of information about historical blood lead levels and their rise and fall as well as information on avoiding lead poisoning, and recognizing and treating exposure.

Environmental Health Center — Lead Poisoning Prevention Outreach Program — U.S. National Safety Council The Lead Poisoning Prevention Outreach Program is aimed at minority and underserved populations. There is a Spanish version. Information on the lead paint disclosure rule can be found here, as well as a variety of educational materials, the Lead Inform newsletter (in PDF format), and a telephone hotline and list of contacts if you suspect lead poisoning.

MEDLINEplus: Lead Poisoning A list of articles organized by topic within lead poisoning, such as General/Overview, Clinical Trials, and Law and Policy. These articles are all full text, some are in PDF format, and government agencies or departments publish most. A great deal of information, well organized.

Alliance for Healthy Homes The Alliance for Healthy Homes is a national non-profit organization that is involved with lead poisoning prevention policy. This site includes information and resources for community organizing and advocacy around lead poisoning, a lead poisoning news alert, and publications about lead poisoning prevention policy.

National Center for Healthy Housing The National Center for Healthy Housing is a national non-profit organization that provides information and resources for lead poisoning prevention and is involved in research and policy. This site has information on scientific research on lead hazard control, technical trainings, laws and policy, fact-sheets and other resources for lead poisoning prevention.