TREATMENT.
Inorganic lead is positively charged. It can be in the charged or ionic form or combined with a negatively charged ion.
Organic lead is lead in combination with carbon atom(s).
Inorganic lead compounds account for most of the cases of lead poisoning.
Lead is a cumulative poison and builds up in the body tissues and organs.
The treatment principle (chelation) is to provide a molecule which will bind to the lead, effectively removing it from its binding site, and then excreting the new lead-molecule complex.
Chelation therapy, then, is the formation of a metal ion complex in which the metal is bound and removed from the body.
Chelation therapy will effectively remove lead in blood but not the lead in the soft tissues and bones.
It is important to remember that there always an equilibrium between lead in blood and lead in soft tissues. When the lead is removed from the blood - it is not removed from the soft tissues or bones. After some period of time, a new equilibrium will be set up between tissues and blood and once again chelation therapy can be used to remove the lead from the blood. Hence, one visit does not do the trick. Several visits over several days may be required. The inconvenience is worth the effort.
If there is any hint that a child or adult may have consumed lead, they should immediately consult a physician for the appropriate blood tests.
