Lead poisoning cause? My boyfriend had pieces of a .22 bullet under his skin for over 30 years?

it all started with a little bump on his arm that itched a lot. He didn't make a connection between it and a time when he was 5 years and was playing with a handgun cartridge. He hit it with a stone and it went off, lodging pieces of lead in his arm.
It remained there until recently, i decided to excise the bump and ended up finding tiny lead pieces.
Does this sub-cutaneal lead exposure pose health risks for him? It was ther for 30 years.

He didn't tell his parents at the time because he knew he was going to get punished for it, and he won't go to the doctor or hospital to get tested.

Metallic lead does not dissolve easily under the skin, which is why, after 30 years, you still found the pieces. It is COMPOUNDS of lead, such as lead acetate, formerly used as a whitener in paint, that are dangerous to us.

I hope that you were able to get it all out without causing any infection.

I would think so. To what degree, that's hard to tell. They do have blood tests for lead exposure. You could try that...and talk to a Dr. about it.

Tags

　　Leishmaniasis 　　Legionnaires Disease 　　Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease 　　Leg Disorders 　　Leg Injuries 　　Learning Disorders 　　Lead Poisoning 　　LDL 　　Latino Health 　　Latex Allergy 　　LASIK 　　Laser Eye Surgery 　　Larynx Cancer

Related information

LEAD POISONING!!! : How long after a child is exposed to high levels of lead can they still be tested for it?

Take your child to a doctor and they will run a simple blood test. A child can be tested for several months to years later for high blood levels. You need not worry to much unless your child has ...

Lead poisoning: can filtered water still contain lead? tastes very sweet... please help!?

Here's the problem.... filters only filter. Yeah, I'm sure everyone is saying "duh!", but my point is that it can only remove a certain amount and it's not perfect in rem...

What is the most dangerous chemical commonly in consumer products today? Like historically lead poisoning?

Aspartame and Splenda(sucralose). They are used in many drinks to cut calories but come with side effects. Aspartame is much worse and I'm surprised it hasn't been banned yet... Aspar...

I had dirty water splashed in my eye that had rubbed off paint from a truck in it, could I get lead poisoning?

Lead paint is not used on cars. At least not in any modern, civilized country.

...

Ok.. I accidently stabbed someone with a pen.. And they started bleeding some..Could he get lead poisoning?

Not with a pen and not with a pencil either (because pencils are actually graphite). Besides even if they were lead it would take more than that to poison someone.

...

I was stabbed with a mechanical pencil. Is there a risk of lead poisoning?

It is difficult to say...but is a #2 lead pencil? did you bleed? who stabbed you by the way? I think you should get some ebsom salts and soak the area...and let it rest overnight...and se...

I wanted to know the long term effects of lead poisoning.?

There can be neurological damage, kidney damage, heart problems and problems with reproduction. The common treatment was called chelation. The symptons would depend on the severity of his exposure...

Can you get lead poisoning from a no.2 pencil that broke off & went into your eye?

Modern No. 2 pencils are made with graphite instead of lead, so there is no danger of lead poisoning from the pencil "lead". Although you may want to get it removed before it causes any o...