Genotoxic effects of lead: an updated review.
Lead is a ubiquitous toxic heavy metal with unique physical and chemical properties that make it suitable for a great variety of applications. Because of its high persistence in the environment and its use since ancient times for many industrial activities, lead is a common environmental and occupational contaminant widely distributed around the world. Even though the toxic effects of lead and its compounds have been investigated for many years in a variety of systems, the data existing with regard to its mutagenic, clastogenic and carcinogenic properties are still contradictory. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified lead as possible human carcinogen (group 2B) and its inorganic compounds as probable human carcinogens (group 2A). Furthermore, although the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of action of lead remain still unclear, there are some studies that point out indirect mechanisms of genotoxicity such as inhibition of DNA repair or production of free radicals. This article reviews the works listed in the literature that use different parameters to evaluate the genotoxic effects of lead in vitro, in vivo and in epidemiological studies.
García-Lestón
Julia
J
Department Psychobiology, University of A Coruña, Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, A Coruña, Spain.
Méndez
Josefina
J
Pásaro
Eduardo
E
Laffon
Blanca
B
D000818:Animals; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009154:Mutation; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D007854:Lead; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase