Stable metallic element (no. 82)
Incredible environmental burden secondary to inclusion in paints, fuels, and industrial uses
Average blood levels in US have fallen from 12.8 mcg/dL in the late 1970's to 2mcg/dL mostly due to banning<unk>  in gasoline
Interferes with the action of divalent cations and sulfhydryl groups
Particularly toxic to Zinc containing enzymes
Binds to calcium activated enzymes with 10,000x great affinity that calcium
Directly toxic to renal tubules
Particularly toxic to Zinc containing enzymes
Binds to calcium activated enzymes with 10,000x great affinity that calcium
Rapidly and completely absorbed from lungs
Minimal absorption through intact skin
Variable GI absorption
Children absorb more than adults (70% vs. 20%)
Affected by nutritional status, calcium stores and iron stores
Children absorb more than adults (70% vs. 20%)
Affected by nutritional status, calcium stores and iron stores
Large Vd
Distributes to bone, muscles, brain, and blood
After weeks mostly in the bones and teeth
In adults 94% of total body<unk>  is in the bones and teeth
Some<unk>  can leave the bones and re-enter blood under certain circumstances
Pregnancy, periods of breast feeding, fractures, advanced age
In adults 94% of total body<unk>  is in the bones and teeth
Pregnancy, periods of breast feeding, fractures, advanced age
No metabolism as toxin is elemental
Excreted in urine and stool
Amount excreted varies with age
Children retain about 70% while adults only retain about 1%
Children retain about 70% while adults only retain about 1%<unk>  paint
Occupational
Soil contamination<unk>  dust
Water (old pipes, especially when the water is "soft" or acidic)
batteries (especially car), weights, ammunition
Food (leafy green vegetables grown in<unk> -containing soil)
Moonshine (made in stills that contain<unk> -soldered parts)
Alternative/herbal medications
Poorly monitored imported products
Eg. Toys imported from China which were coated in<unk>  paints
Eg. plates brought by immigrants from Mexico/South America
Eg. Toys imported from China which were coated in<unk>  paints
Eg. plates brought by immigrants from Mexico/South America
Phased out of gasoline in the 1980s and banned in 1996
Lead toxicity
Aluminum toxicity
Gold toxicity
Antimony toxicity
Mercury toxicity
Arsenic toxicity
Copper toxicity
Barium toxicity