Heavy metal toxicity over the years has been proven to be a source of diverse health risks. Thou these metals, play certain biological roles, they are in excess amount get accumulated in the body and food chain displaying a chronic effect in the long run. Lead toxicity is an important environmental disease and its effects on the human body are devastating with its toxicity dependent upon the absorbed dose, the route of exposure as well as the duration of exposure. There is almost no function in the human body which is not affected by lead toxicity. Lead is highly persistent in the environment and because of its continuous use, its levels rise in almost every country particularly in developing countries like Nigeria where it occupies unique physical and chemical properties that make it suitable for a large number of applications. Various public health measures have been undertaken to control, prevent and treat lead toxicity occurring at various levels, such as occupational exposure, accidents and environmental factors. This article reviews the works listed in scientific literatures with recent updates regarding the toxicity of lead. Focus is also on the biomarkers of lead toxicity on the renal, hematological and oxidative stress conditions.

Human exposure to lead could pose serious health challenges, especially among occupationally-exposed workers. Though several toxicological studies have been carried out on toxic lead exposure in humans regarding their levels, reactions and disease conditions; dearth data exists in terms of correlation of lead levels with their exposure markers and subsequent manifested disease conditions. This study therefore aims to investigate the association between lead exposure and specific biomarkers used in monitoring lead levels in some occupationally exposed individuals and comparing the values with non-exposed individuals. A total of 116 subjects (72 occupationally exposed and 44 non-exposed subjects) within the age range of 17– 50 years were studied in a cross-sectional study conducted between August 2021 and November 2021 in Gurara and Suleja areas, in Niger state, Nigeria. Blood lead levels, hepato-renal indices and hematological parameters were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and abacus 380 analyzer, respectively. The mean blood levels of lead were 26.8±5.4 μg/dL in occupationally-exposed subjects, while in non-exposed subject’s 3.7±2.1 μg/dL. The results showed that occupational exposure increases the blood level of lead, implicating hematological variables and elevating specific hepato-renal indices which consequently increase the health risk of occupationally exposed individuals. Therefore, taking note of other body burdens, the synergistic adoption of these indicative biomarker tests could be used to give an implicative assessment on lead exposure and toxicity.

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