Is lead dust a major issue?
To some lead dust is the major issue. Lead dust can be extremely fine and is, therefore, easily absorbed into the bloodstream. In the case of a small child with a developing nervous system, lead dust may be far more destructive than, say, a lead chip. Dr. John Graef, a leading expert in this field, has written that there is enough lead in a chip the size of a finger nail to kill a child. However, in most cases a chip works its way through a digestive system without being fully absorped and is then excreted. Lead dust is another matter. It is easily absorped and the effects are immediate and long lasting.