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No Rocker Wants This Heavy Metal

When heavy metal music bombarded the airwaves, we YOU Docs were in the early stages of our careers and had zip time to embrace it. Besides, the heavy metal we were concerned about was lead (mercury, too, but that's another column) because of the brain damage lead-based paints caused kids who chewed on painted furniture or toys.

Today we have even more reasons to avoid the heavy metal: Adults can suffer brain changes, too — from mild memory loss to depression, seizures and odd behavior or crazy thinking — if you inhale lead dust or swallow particles. How could you?

There's a risk of drinking bits of lead if you speed water-boiling time by starting with hot tap water. (Cold water doesn't pull lead from pipes easily.) Exposure also occurs when doing hobbies like metalwork, mixing pottery glazes, refinishing furniture or working jobs like construction, welding or auto repair. Living with someone who brings lead dust home on clothing can lead to toxic exposure, too.

If you work with lead for fun or profit, wear a mask with a HEPA filter. And follow New York State's guidelines:

—Get a blood test for lead before beginning to work with it.

—Then get tested once a month for three months.

—After three months, get tested every two months.

—If your tests stay safe, test every six months.

If you lose your appetite or feel tired, weak, irritable and/or have insomnia, stomachaches or nausea, get a blood test. And if your uncle acts crazy, get him tested, too.