Lead—Adults

A Awad El Karim M, Hamed AAS, Elhaimi YAA, et al Effects of exposure to lead among lead-acid battery factory workers in Sudan. Arch Environ Health 41 261-265, 1986 

Allam M, Osmaan AL, et al Neurobehavioral changes among workers in some chemical industries in Egypt. Environ Res 63 295-300,1993 

Araki S, Yokoyama K, Aono H, et al Psychological performance in relation to central and peripheral nerve conduction in workers exposed to lead, zinc, and copper. Am J Ind Med 9 535-542,1986 

Amvig E, Grandjean P, Beckmann J Neurotoxic effects of heavy lead exposure determined with psychologic tests. Toxicol Lett 5 399-404, 1980 

Baker EL, Feldman RG, White RF, et al The role of occupational lead exposure in the genesis of psychiatric and behavioral disturbances. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 303 38-48, 1983 

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Lead Adult Liver Pharmacist (at the time of writing)... 

Nonspecific immunosuppressive therapy in an adult patient is usually through cyclosporin (35), started intravenously at the time of transplantation, and given orally once feeding is tolerated. Typically, methylprednisone is started also at the time of transplantation, then reduced to a maintenance dose. A athioprine (31) may also be used in conjunction with the prednisone to achieve adequate immunosuppression. Whereas the objective of immunosuppression is to protect the transplant, general or excessive immunosuppression may lead to undesirable compHcations, eg, opportunistic infections and potential malignancies. These adverse effects could be avoided if selective immunosuppression could be achieved. Suspected rejection episodes are treated with intravenous corticosteroids. Steroid-resistant rejection may be treated with monoclonal antibodies (78,79) such as Muromonab-CD3, specific for the T3-receptor on human T-ceUs. Alternatively, antithymocyte globulin (ATG) may be used against both B- and T-ceUs. 

The alimentary symptoms may be overshadowed by neuromuscular dysfunction, accompanied by signs of motor weakness that may progress to paralysis of the exterior muscles or the wrist (wrist drop), and less often, of the ankles (foot drop). Encephalopathy, the most serious result of lead poisoning, frequendy occurs in children as a result of pica, ie, ingestion of inorganic lead compounds in paint chips this rarely occurs in adults. Nephropathy has also been associated with chronic lead poisoning (147). The toxic effects of lead may be most pronounced on the developing fetus. Consequendy, women must be particulady cautious of lead exposure (148). The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends a blood level of less than 10 p.m per 100 mL for children. 

The symptoms of vitamin E deficiency in animals are numerous and vary from species to species (13). Although the deficiency of the vitamin can affect different tissue types such as reproductive, gastrointestinal, vascular, neural, hepatic, and optic in a variety of species such as pigs, rats, mice, dogs, cats, chickens, turkeys, monkeys, and sheep, it is generally found that necrotizing myopathy is relatively common to most species. In humans, vitamin E deficiency can result from poor fat absorption in adults and children. Infants, especially those with low birth weights, typically have a vitamin E deficiency which can easily be corrected by supplements. This deficiency can lead to symptoms such as hemolytic anemia, reduction in red blood cell lifetimes, retinopathy, and neuromuscular disorders. 

In adults, a few areas may require further study. For example, there is a report of soya consumption causing an increased incidence of hyperplastic epithelial cells in the nipple aspirate fluid of pre- and postmenopausal women.This could constitute a risk factor for breast cancer. Also, the use in herbal medicine of particular plants emphasises that these species have the potential to cause physiological changes. Consequently, the increasing public interest in the use of herbal medicines could lead to unintended (adverse) effects, particularly as most... 

Summary of Lowest Observed Effect Levels for Key Lead-Induced Health Effects in Adults... 

Bradycardia Bradycardia is a slow heart rate (60 beats per minute or slower) that does not meet the body s metabolic demands. Symptoms of bradycardia include dizziness, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, or fainting spells. This can be compared to tachycardia, which is an extremely rapid heart rate, usually signified by a pulse of over 100 beats per minute. Adults usually have a resting heart rate of 70-80 beats per minute, although well-trained athletes can have resting rates in the 50 s or 60 s. Newborn babies have a normal heart rate of 120-160 beats per minute. A slowed heart rate can lead to a variety of other problems. First aid treatment may include administration of oxygen. 

Lead zero TT Action Level = 0.015 Infants and children Delays in physical or mental develoj Adults Kidney problems high blood pressure Corrosion of hfflisehold plumbing systems erosion of natural deposits... 

High concentrations of SO, can produce tempo-rai y breathing difficulties in asthmatic children and in adults who are active outdoors. Sulfur dioxide also can directly damage plants and has been shown to decrease crop yields. In addition, sulfur oxides can be converted to sulfuric acid and lead to acid rain. Acid rain can harm ecosystems by increasing the acidity of soils as well as surface waters such as rivers, lakes, and streams. Sulfur dioxide levels fell, on average, by 39 percent between 1989 and 1998. 

An average adult breathes about 8.50 X 103 L of air per day. The concentration of lead in highly polluted urban air is 7.0 X 10 6 g of lead per one m3 of air. Assume that 75% of die lead is present as particles less than 1.0 X 10 6 m in diameter, and that 50% of die particles below that size are retained in the lungs. Calculate the mass of lead absorbed in this manner in 1 year by an average adult living in this environment... 

Lead is a poisonous metal that especially affects children because they retain a larger fraction of lead than adults da Lead levels of0.250 ppm in a child cause delayed cognitive development How many moles of lead present in 1.00 g of a child s blood would 0.250 ppm represent ... 

Four of the main-group cations are essential in human nutrition (Table A). Of these, the most important is Ca2+. About 90% of the calcium in the body is found in bones and teeth, largely in the form of hydroxyapatite, CatOH)2 - SCa PO. Calcium ions in bones and teeth exchange readily with those in the blood about 0.6 g of Ca2+ enters and leaves your bones every day. In a normal adult this exchange is in balance, but in elderly people, particularly women, there is sometimes a net loss of bone calcium, leading to the disease known as osteoporosis. 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects over 5% of the adult population, is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and is the only major cause of mortality that is increasing worldwide. It is an inflammatory disorder of the lungs, caused mainly, but not exclusively, by cigarette smoking. 15-20% of smokers develop COPD. 

Prostacyclin (epoprostanol) is one of the few drugs effective for the treatment of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) a rare but frequently fatal illness of young adults. Increased blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation leads to right-heart failure. Continuous infusion of epoprostanol leads to a decrease in blood pressure however, it is unclear whether this is due to direct dilator activity of the IP receptor acting on smooth muscle, or a more indirect mechanism. 

Children are affected by methyl parathion in the same manner as adults. Exposure to high levels of methyl parathion, even for short periods, may result in changes in the nervous system, leading to headaches, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, and death (see also Section 1.5 for a more complete description of how methyl parathion affects human health). It is not known whether children are more sensitive to the effects of methyl parathion than adults. There is some indication that young rats may be more sensitive than adults to nervous system effects. 

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