REVIEW ARTICLE:Future of Lead Chelation Distribution and Treatment

Lead is the major environmental toxin resulting in the ill health and deleterious effect on almost all organs in the human body in a slow and effective manner. The best treatment for lead poisoning is chelation therapy which is next only to prevention. The authors describe the disruption of homeostasis of the human body by lead in various tissues like blood, bones, liver, kidneys and brain; and the ability of lead to enter the cell using calcium channels and calcium receptors like Ca++ dependant K+ ion channels, transient receptor potential channels, T-tubules, calmodulin receptors, inositol trisphosphate receptors and ryanodine receptors. We report a few novel chelating agents like ionophores, decadentate ligands, picolinate ligands, octadentate ligand, allicin, thiamine, that show good potential for being used in chelation therapy. Future of leadpoisoning is a challenge to all and it needs to be meticulously studies to have an economic and health approach

Treating Lead Toxicity: Possibilities beyond Synthetic Chelation

Lead, a ubiquitous metal, is one of the most abundant elements present on earth. Its easy availability and cost effectiveness made it an extremely popular component in the industrial revolution. However, its hazardous health effects were not considered at the time. Over the last few decades, with the adverse effects of lead coming to the forefront, nations across the world have started to recognize and treat lead toxicity. The most reliable and used method until now has been chelation therapy. Recent research has suggested the use of natural products and sources to treat lead poisoning with minimal or no side effects. This review has tried to summarize a few of the natural products/sources being investigated by various groups

Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of lead poisoning in a patient with occupational lead exposure: a case presentation

Amongst toxic heavy metals, lead ranks as one of the most serious environmental poisons all over the world. Exposure to lead in the home and the workplace results in health hazards to many adults and children causing economic damage, which is due to the lack of awareness of the ill effects of lead. We report the case of a 22 year old man working in an unorganized lead acid battery manufacturing unit, complaining about a longer history of general body ache, lethargy, fatigue, shoulder joint pain, shaking of hands and wrist drop. Patient had blue line at gingivodental junction. Central nervous system (CNS) examination showed having grade 0 power of extensors of right wrist & fingers. Reflexes: Supinator- absent, Triceps- weak and other deep tendon reflexes- normal. Investigations carried out during the admission showed hemoglobin levels of 8.3 g/dl and blood lead level of 128.3 μg/dl. The patient was subjected to chelation therapy, which was accompanied by aggressive environmental intervention and was advised not to return to the same environmental exposure situation. After repeated course of chelation therapy he has shown the signs of improvement and is on follow up presently

Toksični učinci olova u profesionalno izložene indijske obitelji

This article describes an entire family manufacturing lead acid batteries who all suffered from lead poisoning. The family of five lived in a house, part of which had been used for various stages of battery production for 14 years. Open space was used for drying batteries. They all drank water from a well located on the premises. Evaluation of biomarkers of lead exposure and/or effect revealed alarming blood lead levels [(3.92±0.94) µmol L-1], 50 % reduction in the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase [(24.67±5.12) U L-1] and an increase in zinc protoporphyrin [(1228±480) µg L-1]. Liver function tests showed an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase [(170.41±41.82) U L-1]. All other liver function test parameters were normal. Renal function tests showed an increase in serum uric acid [(515.81±86.29) µmol L-1] while urea and creatinine were normal. Serum calcium was low [(1.90±0.42) mmol L-1 in women and (2.09±0.12) mmol L-1 in men], while blood pressure was high in the head of the family and his wife and normal in children. Lead concentration in well water was estimated to 180 µg L-1. The family was referred to the National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India, were they were received treatment and were informed about the hazards of lead poisoning. A follow up three months later showed a slight decrease in blood lead levels and a significant increase in haemoglobin. These findings can be attributed to behavioural changes adopted by the family, even though they continued producing lead batteries.Olovo je sveprisutni metal s mnogo namjena, a čovječanstvo ga rabi već više od 6000 godina. Danas je olovo među najrasprostranjenijim toksinima u okolišu, a drugi je na popisu toksičnih metala, odmah iza arsena. Mnogi još nisu svjesni njegova toksičnoga djelovanja te se i dalje izlažu olovu. Ovdje je opisana obitelj koja proizvodi olovne akumulatore i koja je pretrpjela trovanje olovom zahvaljujući svojoj neobaviještenosti. Ova peteročlana obitelj živjela je u jednome kućanstvu čiji je dio namijenjen različitim fazama proizvodnje akumulatora već 14 godina. Akumulatori su se sušili na otvorenome. Na imanju je bio i bunar s pitkom vodom. Mjerenja biopokazatelja izloženosti olovu i njegova djelovanja u svih pet članova obitelji dovela su do alarmantnoga saznanja o razinama olova u krvi [(3,92±0,94) µmol L-1], 50 %-tnom padu aktivnosti dehidrataze δ-aminolevulinske kiseline [(24,67±5,12) U L-1] te povišenom cinkovu protoporfirinu [(1228±480) µg L-1]. Jetrene probe otkrile su povišene razine alkalne fosfataze u serumu [(170,41±41,82) U L-1]. Ostali su parametri jetrene funkcije bili normalni. Testovi funkcije bubrega otkrili su povišene razine mokraćne kiseline u serumu [(515,81±86,29) µmol L-1], dok su razine ureje i kreatinina bile normalne. Također je zabilježen pad razina kalcija u serumu [(1,90±0,42) mmol L-1 u žena te (2,09±0,12) mmol L-1 u muškaraca]. Povišeni krvni tlak zamijećen je u glave obitelji i njegove supruge, dok je u djece bio normalan. Koncentracija olova u bunarskoj vodi bila je izrazito visoka, prema procjeni 180 µg L-1. Obitelj je upućena u indijski Državni referalni centar za otrovanje olovom (National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning) gdje je primila lijekove i bila upoznata s činjenicama vezanim uz otrovanje olovom. Tromjesečno je praćenje pokazalo blagi pad razina olova u krvi te značajan porast hemoglobina. Ovi se nalazi mogu pripisati promjenama u ponašanju obitelji, bez obzira na to što je nastavila proizvoditi akumulatore

Oksidacijski stres u lakirera izloženih niskim razinama olova

Lead toxicity is a public health problem particularly to the children and to occupationally exposed adults. Evidence is mounting successively regarding the adverse health effects of lead at low levels. This study was undertaken to assess the antioxidant status of lead-exposed residential and commercial painters of Lucknow city in Uttar Pradesh, India. Thirty-five painters aged 20 to 50 years who had blood lead levels ≤400 µg L-1 were selected for the study from a population of 56 male painters initially screened for blood lead. The control group included an equal number of subjects of the same age group without any occupational exposure to lead. We studied the association between low lead level exposure and antioxidant status and found that blood lead levels in painters were approximately seven times as high as in controls [(219.2 ± 61.9) µg L-1 vs. (30.6±10.1) µg L-1, respectively]. Among the biomarkers of lead toxicity a significant decrease in the level of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase [(9.13±4.62) UL-1 vs. (39.38±5.05) UL-1] and an increase in the level of zinc protoporphyrin [(187.9±49.8) µg L-1 vs. (26.4±5.5) µg L-1] were observed in painters compared to controls. Among antioxidant enzymes, painters showed a significant decrease in catalase [(56.77±11.11) UL-1 vs. (230.30±42.55) UL-1] and superoxide dismutase [(0.64±0.19) UL-1 vs. (2.68±0.62) UL-1] compared to controls. Lipid peroxidation was monitored by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) that were expressed in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents. Concentration of MDA in plasma was higher in painters than in controls [(7.48±1.31) nmol mL-1 vs. (3.08±0.56) nmol mL-1]. Significant changes were also observed in reduced and oxidised glutathione levels. The strong association between blood lead levels and oxidative stress markers in this population suggests that oxidative stress should be considered in the pathogenesis of lead-related diseases among people with low level environmental exposure to lead.Toksičnost olova javnozdravstveni je problem, napose u djece i odraslih osoba koje su im izložene profesionalno. Sve je više dokaza o štetnom djelovanju olova pri niskim razinama. Svrha je ovog ispitivanja bila procijeniti antioksidacijski status u lakirera iz grada Lucknowa u indijskoj pokrajini Uttar Pradesh. Iz skupine od 56 muškaraca lakirera u dobi od 20 do 50 godina s pozitivnim početnim nalazima olova u krvi, za ispitivanje su izabrana 35-orica čije su razine iznosile ≤400 µg L-1. Izabran je i jednaki broj kontrolnih ispitanika iz iste dobne skupine, koji nisu bili profesionalno izloženi olovu. Ispitana je povezanost izme|u izloženosti niskim razinama olova i antioksidacijskoga stanja te je utvrđeno da su razine olova u krvi lakirera [(219,2±61,9) µg L-1] bile oko sedam puta više negoli u kontrolnih ispitanika [(30,6±10,1) µg L-1]. Od biopokazatelja toksičnosti olova u lakirera je zamijećen značajan pad razina delta- ALAD [(9,13±4,62) UL-1 prema (39,38±5,05) UL-1] te rast razina cinkova protoporfirina [(187,9±49,8) µg L-1 prema (26,4±5,5) µg L-1] u odnosu na kontrolne ispitanike. Od antioksidacijskih enzima u lakirera je značajno pala aktivnost katalaze [(56,77±11,11) UL-1 prema (230,30±42,55) UL-1] i superoksid dismutaze [(0,64±0.19) UL-1 prema (2,68±0,62) UL-1] u odnosu na kontrolu, dok je produkt lipidne peroksidacije u plazmi (izv. thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) izražen kao koncentracija malondialdehida (MDA) porastao [(7,48±1,31) nmol mL-1 prema (3,08±0,56) nmol mL-1]. Značajne su promjene također zamijećene u smanjenim razinama glutationa i njihovoj oksidaciji. Snažna povezanost razina olova u krvi s pokazateljima oksidacijskoga stresa upućuje na to da u osoba s niskom razinom izloženosti olovu iz okoliša kod razmatranja patogeneze bolesti povezane s olovom u obzir valja uzeti oksidacijski stres

CONSEQUENCE OF GANESH IDOL IMMERSION ON PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF LAKES SITUATED IN BANGALORE NORTH & WEST

Abstract: The importance of fresh water bodies is well known. Man's greed for luxury and comfort resulted in the rapid deterioration of the environment. The water bodies from time immemorial had an aesthetic look, quenching the thirst of millions of people have today been loaded with toxic material and chemicals, which have rendered them almost useless. Sporadic reports have covered some of the famous lakes and tanks. However there are several lakes and tanks which have escaped the public eye. The biological wealth of a lake is mainly dependent on its water quality. The chemical nature of pollutants and sediments entering into the system from various sources is the major problem of medium and minor lakes located in several parts of India. This study highlights the quality of water analysed with reference to various physico-chemical parameters in selected lakes of Bengaluru North, of Karnataka state before and after the immersion of Ganesha idols. The major ions present in the lake water have been analysed. The lakes are found to be under the influence of parameters like temperature, pH, chloride, fluoride, Total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, alkalinity, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium. In many samples, two or more parameters have been reported above the permissible limit of drinking water

Blood Lead Levels of Children Using Traditional Indian Medicine and Cosmetics: A Feasibility Study

Background: Traditional Indian cosmetics and Ayurvedic medicines may contain lead. Previous studies have shown a relationship between eye cosmetic use (kohl) in children and elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) \u3e 10 microg/dL. However, an association between Ayurvedic use and elevated BLLs in children is unknown and understudied. Methods: We assessed the feasibility of collecting BLLs in children attending Ayurvedic outpatient settings in India. Our pilot study took place over 3 days in the summer of 2010 at a large public Ayurveda hospital and a small pediatric clinic in southern India. Using a trained interpreter, we administered a standardized questionnaire in Malayalam, assessing sociodemographics, Ayurvedic medicine use, kohl use, and other potential risk factors for lead exposure, to parents of pediatric outpatients. We also analyzed BLLs using a portable lead analyzer. Results: The study enrolled 29 children (mean age, 3.8 years). The mean BLL was 6.7 microg/dL (SD = 3.5; range, 3.5-20.2). Seventy-two percent of the children used Ayurvedic medicine in the past 2 years and 55% reported kohl use. Mean BLL of Ayurvedic users and nonusers was 6.2 microg/dL and 8.5 microg/dL, respectively (P = .08). Kohl users had a statistically significant higher BLL than nonusers (8.0 microg/dL vs 5.3 microg/dL, P = .03). Conclusions: It is feasible to collect BLLs in pediatric Ayurvedic outpatient clinics in southern India. Collaborative relationships with community members and hospital staff were essential. Further research is needed to investigate Ayurveda and kohl use as risk factors for elevated lead burden among Indian children