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Dr. Hasan Hosainian Moghaddam, Director of the first specialized symposium on lead poisoning diagnosis and treatment stated that one of the most important concerns of the World Health Organization (WHO) is lead poisoning in recent decades. In that from October 22 to 28 of each year, it is known as the international lead poisoning prevention week.

The Director of Medical Toxicology of the Asia Pacific Association announced: “in this regard, the first specialized symposium entitled “lead poisoning: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment” with attempts of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Health and Treatment, Research Center of Social determinants on Health, Asia Pacific Medical Toxicology association and Shohadayeh Tajrish Hospital will be held.

Dr. Hosainian Moghaddam declared that Lead is the most important heavy metal that has caused the most pollution in the environment. This metal is used in various industries such as water pipes, cooking utensils, paint, fuel and batteries.

On the other hand, this metal, because of its flexibility and low melting point, is utilized in different fields. The Medical Toxicology and Poisoning Fellowship suggested: “lead at any levels is poisonous for the human body and can cause irretrievable health problems, particularly in the nervous system. The interesting point about this metal is that it is the third risk factor for the afflicting of cardiovascular diseases. Based on statistics, the first cause of death in Iran and the world is cardiovascular disease that is in direct connection with being exposed to lead. 

Dr. Hoseinian Moghadam emphasized: Lead also causes digestive problems such as diarrhea and constipation, abdominal pain, nervous disorders such as headache, restlessness, seizures, and blood disorders such as anemia, and symptoms of liver and kidney disorders in patients. Unfortunately, some complications such as mental disorders and seizures are irreversible in children.

He stated: Children are exposed to lead absorption by body organs more than adults, and at the top of these risks are irreversible neurological and intellectual disorders caused by inhaling contaminated air or eating contaminated food. In most cases, close contact with lead for a long time, but small amounts and continuous contact through dust, water, paints and lead-contaminated surfaces affects the body.

He also announced that the amount of lead absorption in the body completely depends on the diet, underlying diseases, age and medical history of the individual. With long-term exposure to lead, it is stored in the bones and can remain in the body for up to 30 years even if there is no second exposure to lead.

Dr. Hoseinian stated that in cases such as trauma or metabolic disorder, there is a possibility of lead being released from the bones into the blood and causing poisoning.

  Director of Medical Toxicology of the Asia-Pacific Association said: “The diagnosis of lead poisoning is based on the patient's medical history and the detection of lead in a blood test at the request of a doctor."

 The Scientific Director of the First Specialized Symposium on Lead Poisoning suggested that the first specialized symposium on lead poisoning: prevention, diagnosis and treatment be held on October 22, 2023, at the same time with the World Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

In the continuation of his speech, he said: Specialists from various pediatric and adult medicine groups, including gastroenterology and liver, cardiology, nephrology, neurology, psychiatry, oncology, social medicine, radiology, pathology, and toxicology, will give lectures and expert panels in this symposium.

Pointing out that the officials from World Health organization, Ministry of Health and Treatment, and the International Affairs of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences will be present in this symposium, He expressed hope that great achievements will be made by explaining the issues related to lead exposure and presenting scientific and practical solutions to reduce this international concern.