Pb Poisoning Research Articles

The Nitrate/Nitrite and Lead Content of Some Leafy Vegetables Species Cultivated in the Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

AbstractThe nitrate/nitrite and heavy metal (Pb) concentrations of four leafy vegetables species: Corchorus olitoriu (ewedu), Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumkin), Amaranthus viridis (green), Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) are the objectives of study. The vegetables, collected from five farms after harvesting were subjected to phenoldisulfonic acid method for nitrate and Nessler’s method for nitrite before analysis using a T80 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer Analyst 200) was used for Pb determination after acid digestion. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and Pearson Correlation analysis. The result shows that the average nitrate/nitrite contents of the vegetables were less than the ADI of European Commission. The highest and lowest average nitrate content (μg/g dry weight) was found for bitter leaf (101.63) and green (62.84) respectively while their nitrite values were given as 76.47 and 33.93μg/g dry weights. Green had the highest Pb content 4.36 while ewedu had the lowest 3.84 μg/g dry weight. The Pb levels which were not significantly affected by variations in locations (P>0.05), are above the FAO and WHO/EU joint limit, may predispose the consumers to low levels Pb poisoning. We conclude that the urban activities have significant effect on the vegetables and fertilizer application is acceptable.

Lead concentration in feces and urine of exposed rats by x‐ray fluorescence and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Measurements made in feces and urine of Wistar rats exposed to lead acetate (n = 20) in drinking water since the fetal period were compared with those obtained from a control group (n = 20) in order to assess the age influence on Pb excretion. The measurements were made in different collections of rats aging between 1 and 11 months. To determine the Pb content of the samples, total reflection X‐ray fluorescence (TXRF) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) were used for the urine samples and energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used for the feces.The results show high concentrations of Pb being eliminated from the organism by urine and feces in contaminated rats. Values vary from (600 ± 140) µg l−1 to (5 460 ± 115) µg l−1 in urine and from (4 500 ± 300) µg g−1 to (11 400 ± 3 300) µg g−1 in dry feces. The control rats show, in general, low lead concentrations or below detection limits. The fecal/urinary ratio was studied. It was shown to be about three to four orders of magnitude and positively correlated with time. It was verified in feces and urine that excretion decreases with the animal age and that this decrease is made by different levels of excretion. The excretions of Pb in urine and in feces are positively correlated.A good agreement was found between the results obtained with TXRF and ETAAS for urine samples. This work also stresses the suitability of these techniques in the study of Pb intoxication. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Declines in blood lead concentrations in clinically affected and unaffected cattle accidentally exposed to lead

Lead (Pb) poisoning remains a common cause of morbidity in dairy and beef cattle. Although Pb toxicosis is typically diagnosed in cattle with clinical signs of acute or subacute Pb poisoning, it has been hypothesized that subclinical chronic exposure of cattle to Pb, which often goes undiagnosed, poses more of a risk to the human consumer. There is not adequate information on Pb kinetics to determine when or if Pb-exposed cattle can safely enter the food chain. The objectives of the current study were to determine whether subclinical elevations in blood Pb (bPb) were present in cattle from herds where 1 or more individuals had clinical Pb poisoning and to determine the half-life (t(1/2)) of bPb in Pb-exposed cattle. Samples of blood were collected and analyzed for Pb from 126 cattle from 9 farms. Blood lead concentrations ranged from below the detection limit (2.50 µg/dl) to 423.0 µg/dl. Only 11 of the 94 cattle with detectable bPb had clinical signs such as diarrhea, blindness, bruxism, or seizures. When possible, cattle with detectable bPb had serial samples taken. The mean t(1/2) calculated from 44 serially sampled cattle was 135 days (standard deviation: 125 days, range: 3-577 days). A source of Pb on the farm was determined for all but one herd.

Lead exposure and poisoning of songbirds using the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho, USA

Previous studies have found widespread Pb poisoning of waterfowl in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin in northern Idaho, USA, which has been contaminated by mining and smelting activities. We studied the exposure of ground-feeding songbirds to Pb, sampling 204 American robins (Turdus migratorius), song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), and Swainson's thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) throughout the basin. These songbirds had mean blood Pb concentrations (mg/kg, dry weight) of less than 0.19 at a reference area (25 mg Pb/kg soil), 1.09 at moderately contaminated sites (170 to 1300 mg Pb/kg soil), and 2.06 at highly contaminated sites (2000 to 5000 mg Pb/kg soil). Based on guidelines for evaluating blood Pb in birds, 6% of robins from the highly contaminated sites had background concentrations, 24% were subclinically poisoned, 52% were clinically poisoned, and 18% were severely clinically poisoned with Pb. Blood Pb concentrations were lower in song sparrows than in robins and lowest in Swainson's thrushes. More than half of the robins and song sparrows from all contaminated sites and more than half of the Swainson's thrushes from highly contaminated sites showed at least 50% inhibition of the activity of the enzyme δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), commonly used as a measure of exposure to Pb. The highest hepatic Pb concentration of 61 mg/kg (dry weight) was detected in a song sparrow. Using Al as a marker for soil in songbird ingesta, we estimated average soil ingestion rates as 20% in robins, 17% in song sparrows, and 0.7% in Swainson's thrushes. Soil Pb in ingesta accounted for almost all of the songbirds' exposure to Pb. Based on these results, it is recommended that ecological risk assessments of ground-feeding songbirds at contaminated sites include soil ingestion as a pathway of exposure to Pb.

Effect of natural antioxidant Ocimum gratissimum in modulating neurodegenerative changes in rats fed with high concentration of lead acetate

Lead (Pb) poisoning and the role of antioxidants in its pathologies especially their oxidative tendencies on the central nervous system is well documented. The effect of a natural antioxidant-Ocimum gratissimum (ocimum) - in modulating neurodegenerative changes in rats experimentally fed with high concentration of Pb acetate was investigated. Standard laboratory methods were employed to determine blood Pb levels and glutathione activity in the homogenized brain tissue of the experimental animals. Rats fed Pb showed significantly (P<0.05) high blood Pb levels (22.86±2.38 µg/dl) relative to the control (10.71±0.92 µg/dl) not fed extract of Ocimum. Significant (P<0.05) reduction of blood Pb levels was observed in rats fed with 10mg/ml extract of Ocimum (16.38±2.39 µg/dl) as against levels in Pb-induced rats (22.86±2.38 µg/dl). Reduced glutathione activity was enhanced by the administration of ocimum extract in the experimental rats. Lipid peroxidation due to neurotoxic changes was observed in the brain tissue of rats fed with high concentration of Pb while the neurodegenerative modulating effect of ocimum extract was observed in the group of rats supplemented with the extract. Thus, extracts of this plant after proper standardization could be a good supplement in the management of neurodegenerative changes occasioned by excessive Pb ingestion in children with Pb encephalopathy. Key words: Aqueous extract, Ocimum gratissimum, oxidative stress, neurotoxic, lead acetate.

Protective Effect of Chlorella vulgaris against Lead-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brains

Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal widely distributed in the environment. Recent studies suggest oxidative stress as one possible mechanism involved in Pb poisoning. The unicellular algae Chlorella vulgaris (CV) contains various bioactive substances with antioxidant for the prevention of oxidative stress by metals. We investigated the protective effects of CV on the oxidative system in five groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats fed American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-76 diet, plus 2, 5 or 10% CV for 4 weeks. All animals were exposed to 200 mg/l lead acetate by drinking water except for the control (tap water). Body weight gains were significantly reduced in the Pb-exposed group (64%) relative to the control and CV groups. Brain weights were significantly increased in the Pb-exposed group (44%) relative to the others. In the experimental period, food intake, water intake and Pb intake were not different among the groups. The levels of Pb (87%) in brain obtained from the Pb-exposed group were significantly increased compared to the other groups. The levels of oxidative stress parameters in the brain such as superoxide dismutase (36%), glutathione peroxidase (63%), and glutathione reductase (30%) were decreased in the Pb-exposed group relative to the control but markedly increased in the CV groups. The CV also significantly increased glutathione levels by approximately 1.7-fold over the Pb-exposed group, while the malondialdehye concentration significantly decreased by approximately 47-71%. Based on these results, we found alterations in several indicators of oxidative stress of Pb intoxication, suggesting the antioxidant potential of CV. Therefore, CV may have protective effects on brain damage of low-level and short-term Pb exposure in the brains of rats.

Comparison of Blood Lead and Blood and Plasma δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Concentrations as Biomarkers for Lead Poisoning in Cattle

Lead (Pb) concentrations in whole blood and δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) concentrations in plasma and whole blood from 37 cattle with suspected Pb exposure were determined in order to investigate the usefulness of ALA as a biological indicator for Pb poisoning in cattle. Cows were divided into 4 groups based on blood Pb, as follows: <30ppb (group 1), 30-100ppb (group 2), 100-300ppb (group 3), and >300ppb (group 4). The derivatization reaction for ALA was improved by a greater than 2-fold measure in whole blood and by a 10-fold measure in plasma by adding 75 and 50µl of 0.1N HCl, respectively. Blood Pb concentrations ranged from <25ppb to 1,006ppb (185.5 ± 254.9ppb), with 17 samples containing >50ppb Pb. Delta-aminolevulinic acid concentrations in whole blood and plasma ranged from <62.7ppb to 96.9ppb (77.4 ± 8.4ppb) and from <5.0ppb to 24.0ppb (4.6 ± 3.8ppb), respectively. Whole blood ALA did not correlate with blood lead concentrations in any group. Increase in plasma ALA concentration was dependent on blood Pb concentration. There was no correlation between blood Pb concentration and plasma ALA concentration in group 2 (n = 4), but correlation coefficients were 0.736 in group 3 and 0.807 in group 4, respectively. The correlation coefficient was increased to 0.851 when groups 3 and 4 were combined. Based on these observations, in cattle, plasma ALA is a more reliable biological biomarker for Pb exposure than is blood ALA.

Use of grit supplements by waterbirds: an experimental assessment of strategies to reduce lead poisoning

The ingestion of spent Pb shot due to confusion with grit or inadvertently with food particles causes Pb poisoning in a large number of waterbirds, this being one of the main causes of mortality for some species. Lead ammunition for hunting is being progressively banned in more countries, while grit supplementation has been proposed as a management measure to reduce the ingestion of deposited Pb shot. Studies of grit selection with waterfowl in semi-captivity and in the wild were undertaken to evaluate preferences in the colour and geochemical composition of grit, whether it was available dry or in water, its position within the wetland and the relationship between grit ingestion and feeding behaviour. Grit ingestion was higher when food was included in the treatments. In the absence of food, red grit was taken in higher amounts than grey in semi-captivity but not in the wild. Siliceous grit was taken in a higher amount than calcareous when offered dry, but not in water. No differences in the amount of ingested grit were found among different positions within the wetland. The number of feeding attempts in plots supplemented with grit was higher than in those without grit, although the highest numbers of feeding birds were found in plots supplemented with food. Grit ingestion in waterfowl is intimately associated with feeding behaviour. To optimize the effectiveness of grit supplementation to reduce the risk of Pb poisoning in waterfowl, calcareous and siliceous grit may be combined and applied in feeding sites or mixed with bait to attract birds.

Effect of Lead Ion on the Function of the Human Ether-À-Go-Go-Related Gene K+ Channel

Lead (Pb) is a trace metal element in the human body. In order to understand the hazard mechanism of the elevated blood lead level on the human body, the effect of Pb(2+) on the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) K(+) channel in the HEK 293 cell was investigated for the first time using whole-cell patch clamp technique, molecular dynamics simulation, and quantum chemistry calculation methods. We found that Pb(2+) obviously inhibits the current of the hERG K(+) channel, and delays the "activation" and "deactivation" of the hERG K(+) channel, indicating that Pb(2+) evidently decreases the function of the K(+) channel in the cell. The effect is increased with increasing the concentration of Pb(2+). When the concentration of Pb(2+) is 400 μg L(-1), the function of the K(+) channel is entirely lost. The results from the molecular dynamics simulation and quantum chemistry calculation indicated that Pb(2+) can coordinate with the oxygen/sulfur atoms in the K(+) channel protein, leading to the decrease in the function of the K(+) channel. According to the experimental results, we suggested that once the K(+) channel in the human body was irreversibly inactivated by Pb(2+), it would affect the treatment and prognosis of Pb(2+) intoxication.

“Unleaded or Leaded”: Lead Poisoning after Ingestion

Purpose: Lead (Pb) poisoning is usually associated with childhood exposure. We describe an unusual case of abdominal pain due to Pb poisoning from herbal ingestion. Case Report: 48-year-old female with hypertension presents with crampy peri-umbilical abdominal pain and altered mental status: she admits frequent use of herbal supplements/teas, and no occupational or environmental exposure to Pb. Abdominal xray (Figure 1) and CT-Scan shows small high density areas with streak artifacts scattered along ascending colon and cecum. Lab findings reveal normocytic anemia, low haptoglobin, reticulocytosis and basophilic stippling on peripheral smear. Pb levels are noted to be greater than 60 mcg/dL along with elevated protoporphyrins levels. Pb levels 3 days later increase to 284 mcg/dL. She is then transferred for chelation therapy with IV calcium, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and dimercaprol. During colonoscopy multiple black multifaceted metallic fragments are extracted: Pb level then drops to 159 mcg/dL, her abdominal pain resolves and she is discharged home. Discussion: In adults, inorganic Pb is absorbed from either the lungs or the gastrointestinal tract with an absorption rate of 40% and 10% respectively. Pb interferes with heme synthesis. Anemia is frequently microcytic but can be normochromic normocytic. Pb is commonly incorporated into indian ayurvedic preparations and chinese herbal remedies. Women who reported using herbal supplements had Pb levels 10% higher than non-users, although both groups were low (<2.0 mcg/dL). Blood Pb levels were about 20% higher for those women reporting use of ayurvedic and/or traditional chinese medicine herbs, as well as St. John's wort, compared to non-users. The mainstay of treatment is removal of the source of Pb. For those who are symptomatic and/or have high blood Pb levels, chelation therapy is preferred. When Pb materials are present in the gastrointestinal tract, whole bowel irrigation, cathartics, endoscopy, or even surgery may be used to eliminate it from the gut and prevent further exposure.Figure 1: Intraluminal metallic objects on abdominal xray.

Mortality factors and lead contamination of wild birds from Korea

Wild birds have frequently been found dead in their natural habitats, but little is known about what ecological stressors may impact health of wild populations. Here, we report the potentially harmful lead (Pb) levels in tissues along with necropsies on 69 individuals of cranes, raptors, and waterfowl found dead between 2000 and 2003 in Korea. In all samples diagnosed, trauma (n = 22), severe emaciation (n = 15), and infectious diseases (n = 11) were identified. In the survey, injury with Pb shot or bullet fragments was associated with three of the deaths; one of three showed lesions suggestive of Pb poisoning in the tissues. Of 69 birds, 12 had >25 ppm dry wt. (equivalent to 8 ppm wet wt.) in liver or kidney, which is known to be a potentially lethal level of Pb in wild birds. Three individuals had hepatic Pb levels of 101.3 ppm (Whooper swan), 120.4 ppm (Great white-fronted goose), and 1,059 ppm (Mandarin duck), with evidence of Pb pellets in their gizzard. This study suggests that many birds examined may be suffering from excessive Pb exposure that may be of health concern with respect to a potential cause of their mortality. The need for additional research is heightened when considering that some migrants are classified as a globally protected species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Environmental exposure of lead and iron deficit anemia in children age ranged 1–5 years: A cross sectional study

Iron (Fe) deficiency is the most common nutritional problem among children and lead (Pb) toxicity is the most common environmental health threat to children all over the world. The objective of this study was to determine blood lead (BPb) levels and prevalence of Fe deficient anemia among 1 to 5 year old children attending day care clinic in pediatric ward of civil hospital Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 340 children of both genders participating in this study, were screened for anemia. Among them 215 were anemic and 125 non-anemic. The anemic group was further divided in two groups on the basis of % hemoglobin (Hb), mild (Hb < 10 g/dL) and severe anemic group (Hb < 8 g/dL), while non-anemic as referent children (Hb > 10 g/dL). The blood samples were analysed for Pb and Fe, along with hematological parameters. The result indicated that anemic children had a higher mean values of Pb in blood than referent children with Hb > 10 g/dL. The Pb levels < 100 μg/L were detected in 40% referent children while 60% of them had > 10 μg/dL. The BPb concentration in severe anemic children (53%) was found in the range of 100–200 μg/L, whereas 47% had > 200 μg/L. The significant negative correlations of BPb level with % Hb ( r = −0.514 and r = −0.685) and Fe contents ( r = −0.522, r = −0.762, p < 0.001) were observed in mild and severe anemic children respectively. While positive correlation was observed between BPb and age of both group and genders ( r = 0.69, p < 0.01). The BPb levels were significantly associated with biochemical indices in the blood which have the potential to be used as biomarkers of Pb intoxication and Fe deficient anemia.

Estimation of heavy-metal contamination in soil using reflectance spectroscopy and partial least-squares regression

Lead (Pb) poisoning from anthropogenic sources continues to threaten the health of urban children. Mapping Pb distribution on a large scale is imperative to identify hotspots and reduce Pb poisoning. To assess the feasibility of using reflectance spectroscopy to map soil Pb and other heavy metal abundance, the relationship between surface soil metal concentrations and hyperspectral reflectance measurements was examined via partial least-squares regression (PLSR) modelling. Soil samples were taken from four study sites. Metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic-emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis, and reflectance was measured with an ASD (Analytical Spectral Devices) field spectrometer covering the spectral region of 350–2500 nm. Pb displayed an exponential decrease as a function of distance from the roadway, demonstrating the depositional patterns from leaded gas combustion which remain on the landscape 20 years after the phase-out of leaded gasoline. Calibration samples were used to derive the PLSR algorithm, and validation samples assessed the model's predictive ability. The correlation coefficients between the lab-determined abundance and the abundance predicted from PLSR calibration for all metals except copper were at or above 0.970, with the correlation coefficient for Pb the highest of all metals (0.992). Manganese, zinc and Pb had significant coefficients of determination (0.808, 0.760 and 0.746, respectively) for the validation samples. These results suggest that Pb and other heavy metal concentrations can be retrieved from spectral reflectance at high accuracy. Reflectance spectroscopy thus has potential to map the spatial distribution of Pb abundance with the aim of improving children's health in an urban environment.

Korean Red Ginseng Protects Oxidative Injury Caused by Lead Poisoning

Lead (Pb) is a metal that is generally considered to be toxic to the cardiovascular system. Pb-exposed animals display the evidence of increased oxidative stress and hypertension. The current study was designed to examine whether Korean red ginseng (KRG) has protective effects against Pb-induced hypertension and oxidative stress in Pb-exposed rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to Pb exposure or control groups. KRG was administered in drinking water at a concentration of 100 ㎎/㎏/day; the control group received plain drinking water. Animals in the Pb-exposed groups were provided with drinking water containing 100 ppm Pb acetate for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, plasma glutathione, blood Pb concentration, and hematologic data, such as red blood cell quantity, were determined. Pb poisoning was assessed by measuring the blood Pb concentration. Pb exposure (100 ppm) for 12 weeks resulted in a marked rise in systolic blood pressure and blood Pb concentration, as well as a significant reduction in plasma glutathione levels and red blood cell quantity. Other measurements, such as heart rate, body weight, and white blood cell quantity, were unchanged. Treatment with KRG significantly lowered blood pressure, raised plasma glutathione and increased red blood cell numbers in Pb-exposed animals; it also had no effect on heart rate, body weight, or white blood cell quantity. However, the elevated blood Pb concentration was not reduced by treatment with KRG (100 ㎎/㎏). Taken together, these data indicate that treatment with KRG in Pb-exposed animals can reduce oxidative stress and lower blood pressure, suggesting that KRG might be protective against Pb-exposed hypertension and oxidative stress.

Reduced risk of acute poisoning in Australian cattle from used motor oils after introduction of lead-free petrol

Lead (Pb) poisoning of cattle has been relatively common in Australia and sump oil has been identified as an important cause of Pb toxicity for cattle because they seem to have a tendency to drink it. Lead-free petrol has been available in Australia since 1975, so the aim of this study was to assess the current risk to cattle from drinking used automotive oils. Sump or gear box oil was collected from 56 vehicles being serviced. The low levels of Pb found suggest that the removal of leaded petrol from the Australian market as a public health measure has benefited cattle by eliminating the risk of acute poisoning from used engine oil.

Microbiopsies of Surface Dental Enamel as a Tool to Measure Body Lead Burden

Lead (Pb) poisoning is preventable but continues to be a public health problem in several countries. Measuring Pb in the surface dental enamel (SDE) using microbiopsies is a rapid, safe, and painless procedure. There are different protocols to perform these microbiopsies, but the reliability of dental enamel lead levels (DELL) determination is dependent upon biopsy depth (BD). It is established that DELL decrease from the outermost superficial layer to the inner layer of dental enamel. The aim of this study was to determine DELL obtained by two different microbiopsy techniques on SDE termed protocol I and protocol II. Two consecutive enamel layers were removed from the same subject group (n = 138) for both protocols. Protocol I consisted of a biopsied site with a diameter of 4 mm after the application of 10 μl HCl for 35 s. Protocol II involved a biopsied site of 1.6 mm diameter after application of 5 μl HCl for 20 s. The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences for BD and DELL between homologous teeth using protocol I. However, there was a significant difference between DELL in the first and second layers using both protocols. Further, the BD in protocol II overestimated DELL values. In conclusion, SDE analyzed by microbiopsy is a reliable biomarker in protocol I, but the chemical method to calculate BD in protocol II appeared to be inadequate for measurement of DELL. Thus, DELL could not be compared among studies that used different methodologies for SDE microbiopsies.

Lead Levels in Human Milk and Children's Health Risk: A Systematic Review

Lead (Pb), a naturally-occurring element and industrially-produced metal, is highly toxic to children, causing intellectual and behavioral deficits, hyperactivity, fine motor function deficits, decreased intelligence quotient, alteration of hand-eye coordination, and problems in reaction time. Children's exposure to Pb occurs mainly through ingestion of contaminated food, water and soil. Few discussions have been held on the magnitude and potential risk associated with exposure from the consumption of breast milk. Hence, this research was designed to systematically review the scientific literature on published epidemiologic studies, with an emphasis on the study designs and analytical procedures used for Pb assessment in breast milk. From a total of 112 selected articles published since the 1980s, 11 met the inclusion criteria. A review of the data indicated that Pb levels varied from 0.15 to 6.1 microg L(-1) in mature milk samples, from 0.48 to 14.6 microg L(-1) in colostrum samples, and were non-detectable in some samples. The milk/blood ratio, which estimates the mean efficiency transfer of lead from blood to milk, varied between 0.01 and 0.48. The heterogeneity of methods revealed by our assessment of published studies underscores the need for harmonization of study designs and sample collection and analysis protocols to reflect specific exposure scenarios. Human milk seems to be one of the relevant biological matrices for use as a biomarker for assessing children's health risk to Pb poisoning.

Lead distribution in blood and organs of mice exposed to lead by vein injection

To study lead (Pb) distribution in organs and blood in the case of Pb poisoning, mice were firstly exposed to Pb as 0.1 mL or 0.2 mL of lead nitrate solution (0.1 mg/mL) by vein injection every other day. Then, after metabolic absorption, the Pb level in the blood and organs of the mice was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The resulting data showed that 93% of Pb in blood wass accumulated in red cells, but this percentage slightly decreased with increasing exposure time and injection volume. For other target organs, the highest Pb level was in the kidney, followed by the liver, spleen, heart and lung, and was lowest in the brain. Moreover, the Pb level in the heart and brain is in a growth trend at all times for 0.1 mL and 0.2 mL of Pb injection exposure in 15 days, while the growth trend of Pb in other target organs become slow for 0.2 mL of injection after exposure Pb 11 days.

The study of the changes in the biochemical and mineral contents of bones of Catla catla due to lead intoxication

In the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze the changes in the biochemical and mineral contents of lead-intoxicated bones of Catla catla at subchronic (15.5 ppm) exposure, and also to determine whether the effects of Pb intoxication can be reversed with the chelating agent meso 2, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) on the bones of freshwater fingerlings Catla catla by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic absorption spectrophotometer techniques. The FT-IR spectra of the lead-exposed bones show significant alteration in the biochemical constituents. The XRD analysis showed a decrease in crystallinity due to lead exposure. Further, the Ca, Mg, and P contents of the lead-exposed bones were less than those of the control group, and there was an increase in the mineral contents of the bones after DMSA treatment. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the subchronic lead exposure results in severe loss of bone minerals. The overall decrease in the FT-IR band intensity of Pb-exposed bones relative to the control indicates a decrease in the biochemical constituents like proteins and lipids. The increase in the band intensity after treatment with chelating agent DMSA indicates increased biochemical constituents, showing that the subchronic effects of lead can be reversed by DMSA. The amide I bands observed at 1654 cm(-1) in the present study suggest that the protein is dominated by alpha-helical structure.

Heavy metal exposure in large game from a lead mining area: Effects on oxidative stress and fatty acid composition in liver

The Pb mining area of the valley of Alcudia and the Sierra Madrona mountains (S. Spain) has been exploited intermittently for over 2100 years, since Roman occupation and up until the late 1900s. Red deer ( n = 168) and wild boar ( n = 58) liver and bone (metacarpus) were analyzed for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As and Se. Lipid peroxidation, total and oxidized glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH peroxidase (GPX) and fatty acid composition were studied in liver of red deer. The concentrations of Pb in liver and bone of red deer and wild boar were higher in the mining area than in the control area, and higher in the wild boar than red deer, but well below the level associated with clinical signs of Pb poisoning. Liver levels of Cu, Cd and Se were also higher in red deer from the mining area. Red deer from the mining area had 39% less total GSH than in the control area. The percentage of docosahexaenoic acid in liver of red deer from the mining area was 16% lower than in the control area.