Close-up of the mouth of a person suffering from chronic exposure to high levels of lead, showing the grey appearance of the palate. Acute lead poisoning arises through inhalation of lead fumes or dust and causes abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhoea and encephalitis. Long-term chronic poisoning causes anaemia and affects the peripheral nerves. Environmental lead arises from old paintwork and from tetraethyl lead used as an additive in petrol. The use of lead in paints is now more strictly controlled and lead-free petrol is now available to modern cars.