Summary
Lead (20 and 30 Μg/kg body weight/day) was administered as lead acetate during 3 weeks to human volunteers of both sexes. The following parameters were measured: lead in blood (PbB), erythrocyte δ-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALAD), protoporphyrin IX in the erythrocytes (PPE), δ-aminolaevulinic acid excretion in urin (ALAU) and haemoglobin (Hb).
The response and sequence of these parameters were as follows: at first PbB increased and ALAD decreased at the same time within 3 days. In females PPE started to increase after about 2 weeks up to 2 times preexposure values; in males ingesting 20 Μg/kg/day there was no change. Males ingesting 30 Μg/kg/day showed a smaller increase of PPE which appeared after 3 weeks. ALAU only increased temporarily in the first week in males ingesting 30 Μg/kg/day.
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Part of this study was made possible by a grant from the Directorate Health Protection of the European Economic Community.
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Stuik, E.J. Biological response of male and female volunteers to inorganic lead. Int. Arch. Arbeitsmed 33, 83–97 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00538993
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00538993