SLIDE 8 Presentation #10 – Pb and Heme by Mandy Le and Aaron Lead is a dull gray looking metal when exposed to air and has no confirmed biological function even though it is present in the in the human body, enough to be considered a bulk element, 0.12g in a 70 kg human. The concentration of lead in the human body is due to it being stored in bones and teeth
- ver time and in these small concentrations is relatively harmless. If lead is in the blood however, it is
highly toxic and results in lead poisoning, which is defined as being exposed to high concentrations of lead resulting in severe health effects. The Centers for Disease Control (US) has set the upper limit of blood lead levels for adults at 10 µg/100 g and for children at 5 µg/100g. Exceeding this amount will result in lead poisoning. Lead is so toxic that it affects every organ in the human body. Part of lead's toxicity results from its ability to mimic other metals that take part in biological processes, which act as cofactors in many enzymatic reactions, this results in the enzyme not being able to function properly and results in physiological effects. Among the essential metals that lead is able to mimic are calcium, iron, and zinc. Iron is one of the more important metals that lead interferes with, which is essential in our blood. Lead disrupts of the activity of an essential enzyme called delta‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, or ALAD, which is important in the biosynthesis of Heme B, the cofactor found in hemoglobin. Lead also inhibits the enzyme ferrochelatase, another enzyme involved in the formation of heme, which catalyzes the joining
- f protoporphyrin and Fe2+ to form heme. Lead's interference with heme synthesis results in production
- f zinc protoporphyrin and the development of anemia. Another effect of lead's interference with heme
synthesis is the buildup of heme precursors, such as aminolevulinic acid, which may be directly or indirectly harmful to neurons. Figure 1, the reaction catalysed by Ferrochelatase, which lead inhibits Exposure to high concentrations of lead can result from having an occupation involving radiation shields, dental X‐rays, ammunition and various surgical tools. People working jobs such as welders, auto mechanics, battery producers, painters and especially the lead miners will be exposed to high lead
- concentrations. The everyday person can suffer exposure to lead through paint, soil, water and bullets if
they fancy the firing range. Symptoms of lead poisoning may include abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, irritability, memory problems, inability to have children, and tingling in the hands and feet. In severe cases anemia, seizures, coma, or death can be a result of lead poisoning.
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