Detrimental Effects of Lead on Human Health and Protective Effect by Natural Polyphenols: A Review

Abstract

Lead is having wide application in day to day life such as building materials, , and sea fish are also commonly intoxicated by lead. Direct or edible exposure of lead is the very common cause of lead toxicity. Chronic toxicity associated with lead is more hazardous compared to acute toxicity. Young children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead and can suffer from permanent adverse health effects, particularly affecting the brain and nervous system development. Lead causes longterm toxicity in adults, including increased risk of hypertension and kidney damage. Exposure to high lead in pregnant women levels can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight and minor malformations. Lead is responsible for generation of free radicals which induces a broad range of physiological, biochemical and behavioral dysfunctions. Lead exposure is having detrimental effects on almost all the major organ system which is a major contributory factor for incremental mortality and morbidity. Beneficial effects of polyphenol in lead induced toxicity have been noticed. The probable reason by which it may show the protection is scavenging of reactive oxygen species, generated by lead. Moreover, it is reported that they are also responsible for detoxification by removal of accumulated heavy metals from major organs.

Quercetin Abates Aluminum Trioxide Nanoparticles and Lead Acetate Induced Altered Sperm Quality, Testicular Oxidative Damage, and Sexual Hormones Disruption in Male Rats

“…was used to reveal environmental mimicked Pb exposure. Oral exposure is the common direct route of environmental Pb exposure [ 64 ]. Furthermore, Pb exposure resulted in several pathological conditions in the populations exposed to it, even at a low level [ 65 , 66 ].…”

Curcumin‐loaded cockle shell‐derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles ameliorates lead‐induced neurotoxicity in rats via attenuation of oxidative stress

“…The mechanism of lead intoxication in the brain results from its efficient ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and initiate various pathological alterations to membrane‐bound enzymes responsible for maintaining redox homeostasis, thus, causing oxidative stress which consequently leads to cell damage (Flora et al, 2012 ). Neuronal degeneration has been linked to signs of heavy metal‐induced neuronal death (Bhattacharjee et al, 2018 ). Toluidine blue stain is an important special stain for the brain tissue specifically Nissl bodies, nerve cells, and glia (Sridharan & Shankar, 2012 ).…”

“…Consequently, continuous human exposure to lead is becoming inevitable leading to a significant global challenge (Carrington et al, 2019 ; Ming et al, 1997 ). Several health consequences in adults are linked to occupational exposure to lead which remained a major source of lead toxicity (Bhattacharjee et al, 2018 ). Lead can interrupt normal biological function by causing inflammations and oxidative stress via several pathways leading to cell degeneration and death (Lakshmi et al, 2013 ; Mason et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain responsible for superior brain functions such as motor movement, emotions, learning, and recognition, while the cerebellum is the major structure of the hindbrain responsible for motor coordination and balance (Lazarus et al, 2018 ; Mahmoud & Sayed, 2016 ). Both cerebellum and cerebrum are delicate structures that are vulnerable to intoxication resulting in a deficit of cognitive abilities and impaired motor coordination and balance (Bhattacharjee et al, 2018 ; Patrick, 2006b ). A previous study reported the common direct culprit of environmental lead exposure to be via ingestion, particularly in drinking water.…”

“…A previous study reported the common direct culprit of environmental lead exposure to be via ingestion, particularly in drinking water. (Bhattacharjee et al, 2018 ) Furthermore, lead exposure even at a low level resulted in several pathological conditions with a great impact on the nervous system of the populations exposed (Flora et al, 2012 ; Husain, 2015 ). Thus, regardless of the higher amount of lead exposure, cumulative dose of lead and vulnerability of the individual are strongly linked to health consequences (Bose‐O'Reilly et al, 2017 ; Kim et al, 2014 ).…”