Lead does the greatest damage to the brain and central nervous system. Children under six are at the greatest risk because their developing bodies absorb lead more easily.

In children, low-level lead poisoning can …

• reduce intelligence
• cause hyperactivity
  
• impair growth
• shorten attention spans
• cause learning disabilities

• Pregnant women are at increased risk because lead in the mother's blood can affect the fetus.
• Severe lead poisoning can cause mental retardation, coma, and convulsions.
• There is no medical treatment for lead poisoning except in severe cases.

For more information on the health effects of lead, visit these sites:
Centers for Disease Control
EMedicine Report on Lead