Lead: toxicology and assessment in general practice

BACKGROUND: Despite a consistent fall in the number of reported cases of inorganic lead toxicity, lead remains an important toxicant. While much of the pathology caused by lead is known, much remains to be established regarding its mutagenicity and teratogenicity. OBJECTIVE: This article briefly out...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralian family physician Vol. 36; no. 12; pp. 1011 - 2021
Main Author Cunningham, Greg
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Australia Copyright Agency Limited (Distributor) 01.12.2007
Subjects
Australia - epidemiology
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Dust
Humans
Laboratories
Lead - toxicity
Lead content
Lead Poisoning - epidemiology
Lead Poisoning - etiology
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Primary Health Care
Toxicity
Toxicology
Workers
Australia
Queensland Australia
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Summary:BACKGROUND: Despite a consistent fall in the number of reported cases of inorganic lead toxicity, lead remains an important toxicant. While much of the pathology caused by lead is known, much remains to be established regarding its mutagenicity and teratogenicity. OBJECTIVE: This article briefly outlines aspects of lead toxicity relevant to general practice, and provides an outline for taking a workplace exposure medical history. DISCUSSION: Recent trends show a continuous decline in the number of lead toxicity cases among workers and nonoccupational cases in adults and children. The protean manifestations of lead toxicity make it difficult for doctors to consider it as a differential diagnosis. A basic understanding of lead toxicology is helpful when assessing its clinical presentation, ordering laboratory tests, advising patients how to avoid workplace exposure, and in understanding why it remains a major concern as a mutagen and teratogen. (author abstract)
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Australian Family Physician, Vol. 36, No. 12, 2007 Dec: 1011-3
ISSN:0300-8495
2208-7958