Lead

Lead is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the environment and is produced from man-made sources. Most exposures to lead come from lead paint and emissions from industrial facilities like metal smelters. Other sources of exposure include crystal tableware, porcelain enamel and contaminated food. Lead is a suspected carcinogen, a known hormone disruptor, and can damage almost every organ and system in the human body, particularly the nervous system. Lead has been indicated as a cause of decreased mental ability, developmental delays, behavioural disorders and reproductive defects.