Uploaded August 2018 | Updated September 2026, 14 hours ago
An association between lead exposure and gout was first identified in 1859. Recent research shows that even relatively low levels of lead in the blood may be linked to an increased risk of gout, a painful form of arthritis in which the joints periodically become swollen, red and hot. Gout most often affects the big toe, though it can also strike the feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. Gout arises when uric acid crystals build up in the joints. The body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines - substances found naturally in the body, but also in certain foods, like organ meats, anchovies, mushrooms and some seafood. Anything that boosts the body's production of uric acid, or slows the clearance of it, also raises the risk of gout. Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease are some examples. Small amounts of lead can hinder the kidneys' ability to excrete uric acid. This clip is from the 1968 film, One of Sixteen Million, about the causes and treatment of various forms of arthritis, produced by the Arthritis Foundation.
An association between lead exposure and gout was first identified in 1859. Recent research shows that even relatively low levels of lead in the blood may be linked to an increased risk of gout, a painful form of arthritis in which the joints periodically become swollen, red and hot. Gout most often affects the big toe, though it can also strike the feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. Gout arises when uric acid crystals build up in the joints. The body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines - substances found naturally in the body, but also in certain foods, like organ meats, anchovies, mushrooms and some seafood. Anything that boosts the body's production of uric acid, or slows the clearance of it, also raises the risk of gout. Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease are some examples. Small amounts of lead can hinder the kidneys' ability to excrete uric acid. This clip is from the 1968 film, One of Sixteen Million, about the causes and treatment of various forms of arthritis, produced by the Arthritis Foundation.
