Sources of Lead

Possible sources of lead include:

• Plumbing products
• Solder
• Batteries
• Cigarettes
• Fishing weights or sinkers
• Bullets and pellets
• Printing materials (printer ink, typesetting materials)
• Pottery (glazing and firing)
• Lead crystal glasses
• Old pewter plates and mugs
• Lead lighting
• Some imported cosmetics and pigments
• Paints (could be an issue with renovations of boats, homes, cars or furniture covered with a lead based paint)
• Plastics and protective coatings
• Imported toys
• Playground equipment (paint coatings may contain lead, particularly if older than 1998)
• Canned fish
• Imported herbal preparations such as Ayurvedic medicine
• Petrol (aviation fuel, old leaded petrol in the past)
• Soil contamination
• Atmospheric pollution
• Contamination from mines and industrial areas
• Lead flashing on old roofs
• Hair colouring agents such as Grecian 2000

References:

1. http://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/J_M/Lead-exposure
2. http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/chemicals-management/lead
3. https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-exposures-lead
4. Osiecki H. The Nutrient Bible. 7th Edition. Australia. Bio Concepts Publishing, 2008.
5. Clinipath Pathology. Sonic Pathology Handbook. Australia. Sonic Healthcare Ltd, 2014.
6. Cutler AH, Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities. United States of America.Andrew Hall Cutler, 2004.

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