Lead Exposure Linked to Increase Risk of Heart Disease

A new study has found that people who are exposed to lead are more likely to develop heart disease than their counterparts who aren't exposed to this chemical.

For the study, researchers tested blood samples of some 14,289 adults, checking to see whether they contained lead and, if so, how much lead they contained. Researchers concluded that there are is no such thing as a safe level of lead exposure regarding its impact on heart disease, as even small and/or short-term exposes increases the risk of heart disease.

While lead has since been phased out of many products and manufacturing processes, the chemical remains present in millions of homes and buildings. Lead is found in paint, food, water, cigarette smoke and industrial worksites. Other studies have shown that exposure to lead at an early age increased the risk of behavior problem, hearing problems and speech problems in children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This latest study, however, suggests that lead exposure -- even small and/or short-term exposure -- also increases the risk of heart disease, which is the country's leading cause of death among men and women.

Lead toxicity was widespread during the 1970s, as the chemical was commonly used gasoline and paint. In the years to follow, however, it was phased out, resulting in fewer cases of toxicity. Nonetheless, many homes and commercial buildings still have lead paint, and people who live or work in these homes and buildings are constantly exposed to it.

"Low-level environmental lead exposure is an important, but largely overlooked, risk factor for cardiovascular disease mortality in the USA. A comprehensive strategy to prevent deaths from cardiovascular disease should include efforts to reduce lead exposure," wrote the study's authors.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself from the harmful effects of lead exposure. First, check the paint in your home or workplace to see when it was added. If the paint was added before 1980s, there's a good chance it contains lead. And as the paint chips and falls off, it could create a dangerous environment that leaves you susceptible to lead toxicity.

You should also consider the date when your water pipes were manufactured. Like paint, if they were added before the 1980s, there's a good chance that they contain lead.

Lead is all around us, and it's nearly impossible to avoid it. However, you can and should take a proactive approach towards minimizing your exposure to it. As revealed in this study, exposure to the chemical can increase your risk of heart disease. And being that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, you probably want to avoid any additional risk factors.

This study was published in the medical journal Lancet Public Health.