What Is Lead Poisoning, and How Do Adults Get It?
Adults are most often exposed through work and hobbies. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry lists working in a job where lead is used, hobbies that use lead such as making stained glass, and healthcare products from other countries, alternative treatments or folk remedies among the ways people are exposed. NIOSH says symptoms of lead exposure are similar to other illnesses, so lead poisoning may be missed.
ATSDR says long-term exposure can result in decreased learning, memory and attention and weakness in fingers, wrists or ankles, and that lead exposure can cause anemia, damage to the kidneys and increases in blood pressure, particularly in middle-aged and older people. NIOSH says research shows the risk of dying from heart diseases such as heart attack or stroke is 2 to 5 times higher among people with higher blood lead levels.
A blood test is how it is measured. NIOSH says healthcare providers can measure a blood lead level by taking a blood sample for a lab to test, that any amount of lead in the blood means a person was exposed to lead, and it notes that the blood lead reference value of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceATSDR lists working in a job or hobby where lead is used, such as making stained glass, and using healthcare products from other countries, alternative treatments or folk remedies among ways people are exposed to lead. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says long-term lead exposure can result in decreased learning, memory and attention and weakness in fingers, wrists or ankles, and can cause anemia, kidney damage and increased blood pressure, particularly in middle-aged and older people. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- StudyNIOSH says research shows the risk of dying from heart diseases, such as heart attack or stroke, is 2 to 5 times higher among people with higher blood lead levels. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceNIOSH says symptoms of lead exposure are similar to other illnesses, so lead poisoning may be missed. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceNIOSH says healthcare providers measure blood lead levels by taking a blood sample for a lab to test, and that any amount of lead in the blood means a person was exposed to lead. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceNIOSH notes that the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ blood lead reference value is 3.5 µg/dL. NIOSH, CDC ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.