Biochemistry and measurement of Environmental lead intoxication

Lead is probably the oldest and most widely distributed environmental intoxicant, but unlike many of the synthetic agents which cause the greatest concern in industrial societies today, it occurs naturally at low levels in the environment and was present during evolutionary times. Galena (PbS), the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quarterly reviews of biophysics 1978-11, Vol.11 (4), p.439-466
Main Author: Eisinger, Josef
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological Evolution
Body Burden
Humans
Lead - metabolism
Lead - toxicity
Lead Poisoning - diagnosis
Lead Poisoning - epidemiology
Lead Poisoning - physiopathology
Membrane Lipids - metabolism
Membranes - drug effects
Nucleic Acids - metabolism
Proteins - metabolism
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Summary:Lead is probably the oldest and most widely distributed environmental intoxicant, but unlike many of the synthetic agents which cause the greatest concern in industrial societies today, it occurs naturally at low levels in the environment and was present during evolutionary times. Galena (PbS), the most important lead-bearing mineral, is abundant and it is readily smelted. The metal is easily shaped and does not corrode and its compounds have found innumerable uses, particularly as pigments. This explains, in brief, why lead has had great economic importance since ancient times and why lead disease has plagued civilized societies for thousands of years and continues to be a serious concern to health authorities today. (Grandjean, 1975; Eisinger, 1977).
ISSN:0033-5835
1469-8994
DOI:10.1017/S0033583500005631