Is Lead Really That Bad For You?

High levels of lead in adults may not be as dangerous as previously thought, according to a Swedish study. Despite working an average of 10 years at a smelting plant in the port of Londskrona, the 38 workers in the study showed no signs of memory loss or behavioural problems. Inorganic lead is toxic to the central nervous system and is known to damage children. Some two dozen studies have also suggested that adults with high levels in their bodies suffer from poor memory and bad concentration. The new study, by K Osterberg and colleagues at the university hospitals of Lund and Malmo, failed to confirm these findings.