A systematic review on status of lead pollution and toxicity in Iran; Guidance for preventive measures
Open Access
- 19 July 2012
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Vol. 20 (1), 2
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1560-8115-20-2
Abstract
Lead is an old environmental metal which is presented everywhere and lead poisoning is an important health issue in many countries in the world including Iran. It is known as a silent environmental disease which can have life-long adverse health effects. In children, the most vulnerable population, mental development of children health effects is of the greatest influence. Low level lead exposure can significantly induce motor dysfunctions and cognitive impairment in children. The sources of lead exposure vary among countries. Occupational lead exposure is an important health issue in Iran and mine workers, employees of paint factories, workers of copying centers, drivers, and tile making factories are in higher risk of lead toxicity. Moreover lead processing industry has always been a major of concern which affects surface water, drinking waters, and ground waters, even water of Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf and rivers due to increasing the number of industries in vicinity of rivers that release their waste discharges into river or sea. In addition, lead contamination of soil and air especially in vicinity of polluted and industrialized cities is another health problem in Iran. Even foods such as rice and fishes, raw milk, and vegetables which are the most common food of Iranian population are polluted to lead in some area of Iran. Adding lead to the opium is a recently health hazard in Iran that has been observed among opium addicts. There are few studies evaluated current status of lead exposure and toxicity in the Iranian children and pregnant women which should be taken into account of authorities. We recommend to identify sources, eliminate or control sources, and monitor environmental exposures and hazards to prevent lead poisoning.Keywords
This publication has 87 references indexed in Scilit:
- Environmental Lead after Hurricane Katrina: Implications for Future PopulationsEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2012
- Carbon, Metals, and Grain Size Correlate with Bacterial Community Structure in Sediments of a High Arsenic AquiferFrontiers in Microbiology, 2012
- Effects of occupational lead exposure on renal and nervous system of workers of traditional tile factories in Mashhad (northeast of Iran)Toxicology and Industrial Health, 2010
- Lead in Drinking Water as a Public Health ChallengeEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2010
- Lead residue levels in raw milk from different regions of IranFood Control, 2008
- Appendectomy due to lead poisoning: a case-reportJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2008
- Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of lead poisoning in a patient with occupational lead exposure: a case presentationJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2007
- Lead exposure and hair lead level of workers in a lead refinery industry in IranIndian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2007
- Elevated blood lead levels associated with the consumption of moonshine among emergency department patients in Atlanta, GeorgiaAnnals of Emergency Medicine, 2003
- Lead and cadmium contents in Finnish breadsFood Additives & Contaminants, 1994