摘要：Lead is one of the first metals widely used by human cultures, with documented use from antiquity [1,2]. Its attributes- ductility, low melting point, and corrosion resistance contributed to its prominent role in various industries and products, including paints, pipes, plastics [1,3] . The first symptoms of lead poisoning have been described as early as second century B.C., with cases of colic and paralysis following lead intake mentioned by physician from Greece, Nikander. Lead-sweetened wine was a crucial part of Roman elites’ diet [4]. Along with water contamination from lead pipes, it caused significant exposure to lead toxicity among Romans [2]. Lead poisoning is, somewhat controversially, posited as an important factor in the decline of Roman Empire [4]. 186 In XIX century, cases of lead poisoning became more recurrent due to rapid industrialisation. In the latter half of the century, this induced some governments, e.g. United Kingdom, to pass first occupational safety laws [5]. At high levels of exposure practically all tissues and organs are damaged, with functions of central nervous system, blood and kidneys especially impaired. Serious poisoning can be deadly. At low levels we observe a range of effects, from disturbance of biochemical processes, the most important being haeme synthesis, to psychological and neurobehavioural dysfunctions [6]. While acute poisoning became relatively rare, at least in countries with appropriate working conditions, low level exposure remains an intensively studied problem, especially in children, in which it can cause neurodevelopmental disorders [7].
关键词：Lead is one of the first metals widely used by human cultures, with documented use from antiquity [1,2]. Its attributes- ductility, low melting point, and corrosion resistance contributed to its prominent role in various industries and products, including paints, pipes, plastics [1,3] . The first symptoms of lead poisoning have been described as early as second century B.C., with cases of colic and paralysis following lead intake mentioned by physician from Greece, Nikander. Lead-sweetened wine was a crucial part of Roman elites’ diet [4]. Along with water contamination from lead pipes, it caused significant exposure to lead toxicity among Romans [2]. Lead poisoning is, somewhat controversially, posited as an important factor in the decline of Roman Empire [4]. 186 In XIX century, cases of lead poisoning became more recurrent due to rapid industrialisation. In the latter half of the century, this induced some governments, e.g. United Kingdom, to pass first occupational safety laws [5]. At high levels of exposure practically all tissues and organs are damaged, with functions of central nervous system, blood and kidneys especially impaired. Serious poisoning can be deadly. At low levels we observe a range of effects, from disturbance of biochemical processes, the most important being haeme synthesis, to psychological and neurobehavioural dysfunctions [6]. While acute poisoning became relatively rare, at least in countries with appropriate working conditions, low level exposure remains an intensively studied problem, especially in children, in which it can cause neurodevelopmental disorders [7].
