Nitesh Sangral
Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 26: In absence of Lead Referral Centre in Jammu and Kashmir State and lack of awareness about lead poisoning, a number of patients go outside the state to get the test done.
Moreover, children are at greatest risk as they spend a lot of time on the floor, touch painted walls and like to put hands, toys, and other things in their mouths, raising chances of swallowing lead dust and paint chips. Pertinent to mention a small amount of lead is needed to harm growing child mentally as well as physically.
Pertinently, the premier health institutes are being run without the facility of the above-said center since their inception but neither the concerned department nor state government has bothered to set up the facility in the state.
As per doctors, for last many years, the Lead Toxicity (Poisoning) has emerged as a silent killer and threat to human organs and tissues but due to lack of awareness the affected person is not being diagnosed by the treating doctors and continue suffering from the same.
"Lead exposure is estimated to contribute to 6,00,000 new cases of children in worldwide with intellectual disabilities every year," doctors quoted WHO's study, adding that overall, 99 percent of the affected children live in low and middle-income countries. As per dailies, it is estimated that 1,43,000 deaths every year result from lead poisoning and lead paint is a major contributor.
Doctors say the Lead paint can be found in the home, on toys, furniture and on other objects, decaying lead paint on walls, furniture, and other interior surfaces create contaminated dust that children easily ingest. Despite the ban on the leaded items, petrol, paints, and others, its use creates health problems not only kids but also adults for many years into the future.
Talking to Early Times, Dr. Abbas Ali Mahdi, Director National Referral Centre, said that Lead affects every system of human body leading to severe Anaemia, Mental Retardation with the decrease in IQ Levels and its toxicity may even lead to renal failure.
He also said that exposure to lead can occur by contaminated Air, Water, Dust, Food or consumer products. Children are at greater risk as they are more likely to put objects in their mouth such as those that contain lead paint and absorb a greater proposition of lead as compared to the adults. Exposure at work is a common cause of lead poisoning in adults with certain occupations like Painters, Battery Workers and Jewellery workers at particular risks. |
