Lead: A concise review of its toxicity, mechanism and health effect

Aliyu Haruna Sani; Musa Amanabo

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2021.15.1.0096

Authors

Aliyu Haruna Sani Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria.
Musa Amanabo Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2021.15.1.0096

Keywords:

Heavy metals, Lead toxicity, Oxidative stress, Free radicals

Abstract

Heavy metal toxicity over the years has been proven to be a source of diverse health risks. Thou these metals, play certain biological roles, they are in excess amount get accumulated in the body and food chain displaying a chronic effect in the long run. Lead toxicity is an important environmental disease and its effects on the human body are devastating with its toxicity dependent upon the absorbed dose, the route of exposure as well as the duration of exposure. There is almost no function in the human body which is not affected by lead toxicity. Lead is highly persistent in the environment and because of its continuous use, its levels rise in almost every country particularly in developing countries like Nigeria where it occupies unique physical and chemical properties that make it suitable for a large number of applications. Various public health measures have been undertaken to control, prevent and treat lead toxicity occurring at various levels, such as occupational exposure, accidents and environmental factors. This article reviews the works listed in scientific literatures with recent updates regarding the toxicity of lead. Focus is also on the biomarkers of lead toxicity on the renal, hematological and oxidative stress conditions.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Jarup L. Hazards of heavy metal contamination. Br Med Bull. 2003; 68(1): 167–182.

Monisha J, Tenzin T, Naresh A, Blessy BM, Krishnamurthy NB. Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2014; 7(2): 60–72.

Jaishankar M, Mathew BB, Shah MS, Gowda KRS. Biosorption of few heavy metal ions using agricultural wastes. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2014; 2(1): 1–6.

Nagajyoti PC, Lee KD,Sreekanth TVM. Heavy metals, occurrence and toxicity for plants: a review. Environ Chem Lett. 2010; 8(3): 199–216.

Mahaff ey KR. Environmental lead toxicity: nutrition as a component of intervention. Environ Health Perspect. 1990; 89: 75–78.

Ab Latif W, Anjum A, Jawed AU. Lead toxicity: a review. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2015; 8(2): 55–64.

National Research Council (NRC). Biologic markers in reproductive toxicology. Washington D.C. National Academy Press. 1989.

Jacobs DE, Chickner RP, Zhon JY et al. The prevalence of lead-based paint hazards in U.S. housing. Environmental Health Perspective. 2002; 110: 599-606.

Farfel MR, Chisolm JJ. An evaluation of experimental practices for abatement of residential lead-based paint. Report on a pilot project. Environmental Research. 1991; 55:199 ̶ 212.

Lanpher BP, Matte TD, Rogers J et al. The contribution of lead contaminated house dust and residential soil to children’s blood lead levels. A pooled analysis of 12 epidemiological studies. Environmental Research. 1998; 79: 51 ̶ 68.

Aliyu HS, Musa A, Cyril O. Trace and heavy metals status in selected staple foods and associated health risk in artisanal and small scale gold mining vicinity in Kuchiko-Hausa, Gurara LGA, Niger state, Nigeria. ATBU Journal of Science, Technology and Education. 2020; 8(4): 231-241.

Woolf AD, Goldman R, Bellinger DC. Update on clinical management of childhood lead poisoning. Pediatric Clinic North America. 2007; 54: 271 ̶ 294.

Needleman H. Lead poisoning. Annu Rev.Med. 2004; 55: 209-222.

Patrick L. Lead toxicity; a review of the literature. Part I. Exposure, evaluation and treatment. Altern Med Rev. 2006; 11: 2-22.

Rubin R, Strayer DS. ed. Environmental and nutritional pathology. Rubins pathology; Clinicopathologic Foundations of Medicine, 5th Ed, Lippincot Williams & Wilkins. 2008.

Sokol RZ, Berman N. The effect of age of exposure on lead-induced testicular toxicity. Toxicology. 1991; 69: 269–278.

Kosnett MJ. Lead. In Brent, J. Critical Care Toxicology: Diagnosis and Management of the Critically Poisoned Patient. Gulf Professional Publishing. 2005.

Bellinger DC.Lead. Pediatrics. 2004; 113(4 Suppl): 1016–1022.

Mycyk M, Hryhorcu D, Amitai Y. “Lead” In Erickson TB, Ahrens WR, Aks S, Ling L. Paediatric Toxicology: Diagnostic and Management of the Poisoned Child. Mcgraw Hill Professional. 2005.

Dart RC, Hurlbut KM, Boyer-Hassen LV. Lead. In Dart, RC. Medical Toxicology, (3rd Ed.), Lippincot Williams and Wilkins. 2004.

Patrick L. Lead toxicity, a review of the literature. Part 1: Exposure, evaluation, and treatment. Altern Med Rev. 2006; 11: 2–22.

Pearce JMS. Burton’s line in lead poisoning. Eur Neurol. 2007; 57: 118–119.

Merill JC, Morton JJP, Soileau SD. Metals. In Hayes, A.W. Principles and methods of toxicology (5th ed.) CRC Press. 2017.

Henretig FM. Lead. In: Golgfrank, LR. Goldfrank’s Toxicoliogic Emergencies (8th Ed.) McGraw Hill Professional. 2006.

Brunton LL, Goodman LS, Blumenthal D, Buxton I, Parker KL. Goodman and Gillmans, Manual of Pharmocology and Theraupetics. Mcgraw Hill Professional. 2007.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Low Level Lead Exposure. 2012.

Harms Children: A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention. Retrieved 30th March 2021.

Bergeson LL. The proposed lead NAAQS: Is consideration of cost in the clean air act‘s future?. Environmental Quality Management. 2008; 18: 79–84.

Wiencke JK, Kelsey KT, Varkonyi A, et al. Correlation of DNA-adducts in blood mononuclear cells with tobacco carcinogen-induced damage in human lung. Cancer Res. 1995; 55: 4910-4914.

Wakefield J. The lead effect. Environ. Health Perspec. 2002; 110: A574-A580.

Vineis P, Husgafvel-Pursiainen K. Air pollution and cancer: biomarker studies in human populations. Carcinogenesis. 2005; 26: 1846-1855.

Grant LD. Lead and compounds. In Lippmann, M. Enviromental toxico kinetics, human exposure and their health effects, (3rd Ed), Willey - Interscience. 2009.

Adejumo B, Awelogun K, Uchuno G, Emmanuel A, Dimkpa U, Omosor K, Abdulrahman O. Assessment of renal biomarkers of renal function in commercial automobile workers in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Open Journal of Nephrology. 2018; 8: 18-28.

Patrick LF. Lead toxicity; a review of the literature. Physio. Med Rev. 2009; 1(2): 12-17.

Vineis P, Husgafvel-Pursiainen K. Air pollution and cancer: biomarker studies in human populations. Carcinogenesis. 2005; 26: 1846-1855.

Rachel SK, Paolo V. Biomarkers of susceptibility to chemical carcinogens: the example of nonHodgkin lymphomas. British Medical Bulletin. 2014; 3(1): 89-100.

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Folk Medicine.2014.

Jan AT, Azam M, Siddiqui K, Ali A, Choi I, Haq QMR. Heavy metals and human health: Mechanistic insight into toxicity and counter defense system of antioxidants. Intl. Journal of Molecular Science. 2015; 16: 29592–29630.

Tang D, Warburton D, Tannenbaum SR, et al. Molecular and genetic damage from environmental tobacco smoke in young children. Cancer Epi Bio Prev. 1999; 8: 427-431.

Nevin R. Understanding international crime trends: the legacy of preschool lead exposure. Environ Res. 2007; 104: 315–336.

He Y, von Lampe K, Wood L, Kurti M. Investigation of lead and cadmium in counterfeit cigarettes seized in the United States. Food Chem Toxicol. 2015; 81: 40–45.

Kosnett MJ. Heavy metal Intoxication and chelators. In Katzung BG. Basic and clinical Pharmocology. McGraw Hill Professional. 2007.

Rossi E. Low level environmental lead exposure – A continuing challenge. Clin Biochem Rev. 2008; 29: 63–70.

Baselt RC. Disposition of toxic drugs and chemicals in man (8th Ed.), Biomedical Publications. 2008; 823–826.

Park SK, O’Neill MS, Vokonas PS, Sparrow D, Wright RO, Coull B, Nie H, Hu H, Schwartz J. Air pollution and heart rate variability: Effect modification by chronic lead exposure. Epidemiology. 2018; 19: 111–120.

Rogan WJ, Dietrich KN, Ware JH, Dockery DW, Salganik M, Radcliff EJ, Jones RL, Ragan NB, Chisolm JJ Jr, Rhoads GG. The effect of chelation therapy with succimer on neuropsychological development in children exposed to lead. N Engl J Med. 2001; 344(19): 1421–1426.

Flora SJ, Mittal M, Mehta A. Heavy metal induced oxidative stress & it’s possible reversal by chelation therapy. Indian J Med Res. 2008; 128: 501–523.

Dobrakowski M, Kasperczyk J, Romuk E, Prokopowicz A, Birkner E. The influence of beta-carotene on homocysteine level and oxidative stress in lead-exposed workers. Med Pr. 2014; 65: 309–316.

Kasperczyk S, Dobrakowski M, Kasperczyk A, Romuk E, Rykaczewska-Czerwińska M, Pawlas N, Birkner E. Effect of N-acetylcysteine administration on homocysteine level, oxidative damage to proteins, and levels of iron (Fe) and Fe-related proteins in lead-exposed workers. Toxicol Ind Health. 2015; 19: 34-39.