This review evaluates the sources of lead exposure worldwide. Studies from searches relating to sources of lead exposure in various countries within different regional zones were reviewed. Results indicated that in Nigeria, exposure sources include electronic waste, paint and batteries. In Mexico exposure sources include glazed ceramics, lead contaminated utensils and lead contaminated water, for India lead sources include cosmetics and traditional medicines. Sources of lead exposure in China include e-waste, traditional medicines and industrial emissions. In France, exposure sources included lead paint from older homes, imported ceramics and cosmetics and industrial emissions. Australia's exposure sources include paint, dust, imported toys and traditional medicines. Finally, in the United States exposure sources included paint, the industrial legacy of lead exposure and batteries. In high-income countries (HICs) the legacy of lead exposure keeps populations continuously exposed. In lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), in addition to the legacy of lead exposure, lack of regulations or the inability to enforce regulations keeps populations exposed. In all, evidence suggests that lead exposure remains an issue of public health significance in both HIC and LMIC.

Sources of lead exposure in various countries

First drafts prepared by Dr Germaine Buck Louis, Bethesda, USA; Dr Terri Damstra, Research Triangle Park, USA; Dr Fernando DíazBarriga, San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Dr Elaine Faustman, Washington, USA; Dr Ulla Hass, Soborg, Denmark; Dr Robert Kavlock, Research Triangle Park, USA; Dr Carole Kimmel, Washington, USA; Dr Gary Kimmel, Silver Spring, USA; Dr Kannan Krishnan, Montreal, Canada; Dr Ulrike Luderer, Irvine, USA; and Dr Linda Sheldon, Research Triangle Park, USA

Principles for evaluating health risks in children associated with exposure to chemicals

Exposure to an environmental toxicant as a risk factor in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was first hinted at (demonstrated) in the Chamorro indigenous people of Guam. During the 1950s and 1960s these indigenous people presented an extremely high incidence of ALS which was presumed to be associated with the consumption of flying fox and cycad seeds. No other strong association between ALS and environmental toxicants has since been reported, although circumstantial epidemiological evidence has implicated exposure to heavy metals such as lead and mercury, industrial solvents and pesticides especially organophosphates and certain occupations such as playing professional soccer. Given that only ∼10% of all ALS diagnosis have a genetic basis, a gene–environmental interaction provides a plausible explanation for the other 90% of cases. This mini-review provides an overview of our current knowledge of environmental etiologies of ALS with emphasis on the effects of mercury, lead and pesticides as potential risk factors in developing ALS. Epidemiologic and experimental evidence from animal models investigating the possible association between exposure to environmental toxicant and ALS disease has proven inconclusive. Nonetheless, there are indications that there may be causal links, and a need for more research.

The role of environmental mercury, lead and pesticide exposure in development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

https://escholarship.org/content/qt3fj2n1sm/qt3fj2n1sm.pdf?t=ojx8x6

Lead exposure and violent crime in the early twentieth century

The consequences of lead exposure for later crime are theoretically compelling, but direct evidence from representative, longitudinal samples is sparse. By capitalizing on an original follow-up of more than 200 infants from the birth cohort of the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods matched to their blood lead levels from around age 3 years, we provide several tests. Through the use of four waves of longitudinal data that include measures of individual development, family background, and structural inequalities in how lead becomes embodied, we assess the hypothesized link between early childhood lead poisoning and both parent-reported delinquent behavior and official arrest in late adolescence. We also test for mediating developmental processes of impulsivity and anxiety or depression. The results from multiple analytic strategies that make different assumptions reveal a plausibly causal effect of childhood lead exposure on adolescent delinquent behavior but no direct link to arrests. The results underscore lead exposure as a trigger for poisoned development in the early life course and call for greater integration of the environment into theories of individual differences in criminal behavior.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1745-9125.12171

Poisoned development: assessing childhood lead exposure as a cause of crime in a birth cohort followed through adolescence

The authors evaluated mean blood lead levels (BLLs) and the prevalence of elevated BLLs in children 1-6 yr of age living in Torreon, Mexico, and assessed risk factors for lead exposure in these children. The study involved a simple random sample of households in the area around a local smelter, as well as a 2-stage cluster sample of neighborhoods and households in the remainder of Torreon. The geometric mean BLL of children in this study (N = 367) was 6.0 microg/dl (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.2, 6.8) (0.29 microM/l [95% CI = 0.25, 0.33]). Twenty percent of the children had BLLs > or = 10 microg/dl (0.48 microM/l), and 5% had BLLs > or = 20 microg/dl (0.97 microM/l). In multivariate analyses, distance from the smelter, amount of income, and education level of the primary caregiver predicted BLLs. In the environmental risk factor subsample (n = 124), dust and soil lead levels were associated with BLLs and distance from the smelter. BLLs in this study were moderately high, but the levels were lower than those in other smelting communities prior to remediation.

Blood lead levels and risk factors for lead poisoning among children in a Mexican smelting community.

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Blood lead levels and risk factors for lead poisoning among children in a Mexican smelting community.