Since<unk>  has been used widely for centuries, the effects of exposure are worldwide. Environmental<unk>  is ubiquitous, and everyone has some measurable blood<unk>  level. Atmospheric<unk>  pollution increased dramatically beginning in the 1950s as a result of the widespread use of<unk> ed gasoline.<unk>  is one of the largest environmental medicine problems in terms of numbers of people exposed and the public health toll it takes.<unk>  exposure accounts for about 0.2% of all deaths and 0.6% of disability adjusted life years globally. Although regulation reducing<unk>  in products has greatly reduced exposure in the developed world since the 1970s,<unk>  is still allowed in products in many developing countries. Despite phase out in many parts of the global North, Global South exposure has increased by nearly three times. In all countries that have banned<unk> ed gasoline, average blood<unk>  levels have fallen sharply. However, some developing countries still allow<unk> ed gasoline, which is the primary source of<unk>  exposure in most developing countries. Beyond exposure from gasoline, the frequent use of pesticides in developing countries adds a risk of<unk>  exposure and subsequent poisoning. Poor children in developing countries are at especially high risk for<unk> . Of North American children, 7% have blood<unk>  levels above 10 μg/dL, whereas among Central and South American children, the percentage is 33–34%. About one fifth of the world's disease burden from<unk>  occurs in the Western Pacific, and another fifth is in Southeast Asia. In developed countries, people with low levels of education living in poorer areas are most at risk for elevated<unk> . In the US, the groups most at risk for<unk>  exposure are the impoverished, city-dwellers, and immigrants. African-American children and those living in old housing have also been found to be at elevated risk for high blood<unk>  levels in the US. Low-income people often live in old housing with<unk>  paint, which may begin to peel, exposing residents to high levels of<unk> -containing dust. Risk factors for elevated<unk>  exposure include alcohol consumption and smoking (possibly because of contamination of tobacco leaves with<unk> -containing pesticides). Adults with certain risk factors might be more susceptible to toxicity; these include calcium and iron deficiencies, old age, disease of organs targeted by<unk>  (e.g. the brain, the kidneys), and possibly genetic susceptibility. Differences in vulnerability to<unk> -induced neurological damage between males and females have also been found, but some studies have found males to be at greater risk, while others have found females to be. In adults, blood<unk>  levels steadily increase with increasing age. In adults of all ages, men have higher blood<unk>  levels than women do. Children are more sensitive to elevated blood<unk>  levels than adults are. Children may also have a higher intake of<unk>  than adults; they breathe faster and may be more likely to have contact with and ingest soil. Children of ages one to three tend to have the highest blood<unk>  levels, possibly because at that age they begin to walk and explore their environment, and they use their mouths in their exploration. Blood levels usually peak at about 18–24 months old. In many countries including the US, household paint and dust are the major route of exposure in children. Notable cases Cases of mass<unk>  can occur. 15,000 people are being relocated from Jiyuan in central Henan province to other locations after 1000 children living around China's largest smelter plant (owned and operated by Yuguang Gold and<unk>  were found to have excess<unk>  in their blood. The total cost of this project is estimated to around 1 billion yuan ($150 million). 70% of the cost will be paid by local government and the smelter company, while the rest will be paid by the residents themselves. The government has suspended production at 32 of 35<unk>  plants. The affected area includes people from 10 different villages. The Zamfara State<unk>  epidemic occurred in Nigeria in 2010. As of 5 October 2010 at least 400 children have died from the effects of<unk> .
Lead poisoning
Anxiety disorder
Mercury poisoning
Iron-deficiency anemia
Zinc toxicity
Malabsorption
Iron poisoning
Polyneuropathy