lead poisoning

noun

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Definition of lead poisoning

: chronic intoxication that is produced by the absorption of lead into the system and is characterized especially by fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, anemia, a dark line along the gums, and muscular paralysis or weakness of limbs — called also saturnism

See lead poisoning defined for kids

Recent Examples of lead poisoning from the Web

City officials have argued that lead paint, not the lead in pipes, represents the primary source of lead poisoning in Milwaukee.

— ahmed elbenni, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mayor Tom Barrett has nominated a new Health Department commissioner. Here are the problems facing the agency," 12 July 2018
After months of denial from state officials, Gov. Rick Snyder acknowledged the lead poisoning in October 2015.

— brian todd, Detroit Free Press, "Actor on ABC's 'Black-ish' slams Gov. Snyder over Flint water Crisis," 3 July 2018
After others sounded the alarm over lead poisoning in Flint, Ding used his skills in analyzing massive data sets to create ToxinAlert.org.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Public health scientist hopes to take his activism to Congress," 9 May 2018
Citywide, childhood lead poisoning has decreased by 87 percent from 37,344 cases in 2005 to 4,928 in 2016.

— New York Times, "820 Children Under 6 in Public Housing Tested High for Lead," 1 July 2018
Barrett at the time also insisted that paint remains the primary source of lead poisoning for children.

— mary spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A battle is brewing between Milwaukee and paint industry over lead poisoning of Milwaukee children," 7 May 2018
From the inception of the EPA, scientific studies—where personal information is kept private—have been used to mitigate the health effects of air pollution, lead poisoning, polluted drinking water, and toxic pesticides and chemicals.

— margo oge, Fortune, "Scott Pruitt Is Trying to Pull a Disappearing Act on Science. Here’s How It Would Impact Your Health," 25 June 2018
But the 19 cases understate the true extent of lead poisoning likely to have been caused by crumbling lead paint at NYCHA...

— NBC News, "New York City housing authority lied about squalid conditions for years, feds say," 11 June 2018
In cities where children suffer from lead poisoning, workers could be trained and equipped to remediate pipes and playgrounds.

— livia gershon, Longreads, "More than Make-Work," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lead poisoning.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of lead poisoning

circa 1842

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

lead poisoning

noun

medical Definition of lead poisoning

: a serious acute or chronic condition that is caused by exposure and absorption of lead (such as lead carbonate) and is characterized by variable symptoms including fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, impaired cognitive development or function, joint and muscle pain, loss of appetite, anemia, a dark line along the gums, encephalopathy, seizures, paralysis, and kidney damage — called also plumbism, saturnism