Eight subtle symptoms of lead poisoning explained as FDA recalls these 19 cookware items over safety fears

The FDA has recalled 19 cookware items over lead leaching fears.

Lead leaching occurs when traces of the toxic heavy metal are released into a substance such as water or food. Mayo Clinic warns that exposure to even 'a small amount' of lead can cause serious health problems.

The FDA has called for consumers to check their kitchens after a total of 19 cookware products imported into the US have been identified as potentially dangerous.

Most of the items are made from aluminum, aluminum alloys or brass and are made in India, the FDA reports.

The agency first sounded the alarm over the lead-leaching products in August.

Additional testing has seen nine more kitchenware items added to its list.

People are being advised to discard the affected products and to make sure not to donate or refurbish them.

"Other cookware products may also be affected," the FDA said, adding that it will continue to update consumers as new information becomes available.

Symptoms of lead poisoning

Persistent headaches could be a sign of lead poisoning (Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

Health experts warn that lead poisoning can be difficult to detect.

Even people who appear healthy can have high levels of lead in their blood.

Mayo Clinic explains that signs and symptoms of lead poisoning usually don't appear until the amount of lead detected in the blood has 'climbed to a dangerous level'.

Children are most at risk.

"High lead levels can damage the kidneys and nervous system in both children and adults," the Mayo Clinic adds. "Very high lead levels may cause seizures, unconsciousness and death."

Eight signs of lead poisoning in adults

Signs of lead poisoning can be brushed off as other health issues (Manusapon Kasosod/Getty Images)

The symptoms of lead poisoning can manifest subtly.

They include:

• High blood pressure - Lead can interfere with kidney and blood vessel function, causing blood pressure to rise over time.
• Joint and muscle pain - Lead can accumulate in bones and affect nerves and muscles, leading to aches and pain.
• Difficulties with memory or concentration - As lead can damage the nervous system, it can impair brain function and make it harder to think clearly or focus.
• Headache - Lead’s effects on the nervous system and blood vessels can trigger frequent or persistent headaches.
• Abdominal pain - Lead irritates the digestive system and can cause cramping, constipation, or sharp abdominal discomfort known as lead colic.
• Mood disorders - Lead’s impact on the brain can disrupt normal emotional regulation, contributing to mental health issues, including irritability, anxiety or depression.
• Reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm - Lead can harm the testes and disrupt hormone signalling, reducing sperm quality and quantity.
• Miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth - Lead can cross the placenta and interfere with fetal development, increasing the risk of pregnancy complications.

Lead poisoning symptoms in children

Lead can have a major impact on children's' development (Elva Etienne/Getty Images)

Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children can include the following:

• Developmental delay
• Learning difficulties
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Hearing loss
• Seizures

Babies exposed to lead before birth might be born early, have a lower birth weight and have slowed growth.

Lead poisoning is diagnosed through a blood test that measures the amount of lead in the blood.

If you have any concerns, contact your GP.

Which cookware items are affected?

Be sure to check your kitchen, ASAP (Prapass Pulsub/Getty Images)

The 19 impacted cookware products are:

• Sonex aluminum pot from Sonex Cookware
• IKM aluminum saucepan, size 2 with a 9" wooden handle from JSM Foods
• IKM 4-quarter pital brass pot from JSM Foods
• Brass tope from Kraftwares
• Aluminum kadai size 5 from Lotus Mom
• Silver Horse aluminum caldero 28
• Silver Horse aluminum degda 24
• Silver Horse aluminum degda 20
• Silver Horse kadai 26
• Silver Horse aluminum milk pan 4
• Chef Milk pan, 24 centimeters from Shata Traders
• Aluminum hammered kadai, size 7 from Indian Cookware & Appliance
• Brass pot sold at Santos Agency
• Dolphin brand aluminum saucepan
• 2-quart aluminum saucepan from Win Chong Trading Corp.
• 3-quart aluminum saucepan from Win Chong Trading Corp.
• Royal Kitchen cookware, milk pan size 3 from New Reliance Traders
• Tiger White kadai
• JK Vallabhdas aluminum kadai from Grain Market