A boy in my class (in the 80's when they stil used lead) sharpened his pencil then stabbed me in the leg. The lead broke off and the teacher dug most of it out but there is still a discoloration in that spot. I was never taken to see a doctor. through the years I have been getting all kinds of neurological symptoms including seizures and the docs can't figure it out. I never thought about lead poisining. Could that be causing my symptoms I never showed any docs this lead spot. Could that little bit of lead have been slowly poisining me all these years? If i got it removed now would it do any good? How would I get the lead out of my system if this were the case.?
2007-01-13 08:49:31 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Pencils never were lead, as far as I know. If you've ever seen lead, held it, you'd know you can't write with it--it's fairly soft, but not soft enough to rub off on paper so you can use it as a pencil. I mean, I was in school in the 80s, and we used graphite pencils. Frankly, I'm not sure why they ever called it lead.
Most lead poisoning comes from lead solder used on water pipes (not allowed anymore) or actual lead pipes (again, not allowed.) That's why the symbol for lead on the periodic chart is Pb--stands for plumbum. Latin--looks like "plumbing", right?
Lead was also used for solder on steel cans (food cans, I mean), and that was only banned, oh, maybe 10 or 15 years ago. Lead was also used in paint and can be released in paint chips or when paint is removed by scraping, solvents, or those heat-gun things that heat up paint and soften it so you can scrape the goo off.
Most of the "paint-chip" poisonings actually occurred because of lead in water. You still find lead in, say, stained-glass solder or non-food applications.
Oh, and the lead poisoning is from lead lodging in the brain. Not the body. Get checked out, for sure. But a chip of graphite isn't to blame for your symptoms.
2007-01-13 09:08:54 · answer #1 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I too was stabbed by a classmate in the sixth grade, Craig Upshaw, and like you still have a a spot on my lower arm. It happened about 1976, 30 years ago, I have none of your symptoms and can’t imagine that much “lead” would cause a problem. I used the “ ” because I agree with one of the other response “it’s not lead it’s graphite”, I don't think they have used lead since 1800 something.
Be persistent with your MD make him/her figure it out, there is an answer.
2007-01-13 17:31:01 · answer #2 · answered by edoubleyou 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. What broke off in your arm from a "lead" pencil is graphite. It will not cause any symptoms since it is not really lead. Even if it had been pure lead the small pieces left would not be absorbed and causing you symptoms. People can walk around for decades with lead from a bullet embedded in muscle without problems from the metal.
2007-01-13 16:58:06 · answer #3 · answered by DrB 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nope, pencil "lead" is graphite and not toxic. I was running a pencil down the lockers when I was a kid when I stabbed myself in the hand. I'm 47 now and the mark is still there. Inadvertant tattoo, I guess
2007-01-13 17:00:03 · answer #4 · answered by cookinB4U 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Let your doctor know about the lead thing and see what he says. It happened to me to though and I have no problems from it. I would think that it would have been diagnosed a long time ago. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
2007-01-13 17:00:37 · answer #5 · answered by Kimberly M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that sounds like mercury poisoning more than lead, but i don't know. i would reccomend asking your doctor. i think only a doctor would really know how to get the lead out of your system if that were the case
2007-01-13 16:57:17 · answer #6 · answered by regina 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only way that you're going to know for sure is to go to the doctor for diagnostic testing.
2007-01-13 16:56:25 · answer #7 · answered by <3 The Pest <3 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's not lead it's graphite, I never heard of a true leaad pencil
2007-01-13 16:54:50 · answer #8 · answered by james l 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but that would be strange and interesting if it were the case. I know this isn't a real answer, but forgive me, I just had to say...
2007-01-13 16:54:15 · answer #9 · answered by coysmirk 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. It is highly unlikely. But if you are truely concerned, see your doctor about it and bring it up.
2007-01-13 16:55:04 · answer #10 · answered by Popsicle_1989 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋