Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Lead poisoning in a historical perspective.

S Hernberg1

  • 1Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. sven.hernberg@sgh.pp.fi

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|August 15, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Lead poisoning, known since Antiquity, was rediscovered in the 19th century. Modern research now focuses on low-level lead exposure effects and public health standards.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Induction and expression of cyclin D3 in human pancreatic cancer.

Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology·2001
Same author

Work-related factors and mortality -- what is the burden?

Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health·2001
Same author

Towards a new millennium.

Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health·2000
Same author

Differentiation of islet cells in long-term culture.

Pancreas·2000
Same author

Inconclusive cancer epidemiology.

Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health·1998
Same author

Overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B chain and type beta PDGF receptor in human chronic pancreatitis.

Digestive diseases and sciences·1998

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Lead poisoning has a long history, recognized in Antiquity but largely forgotten until the 19th century.
  • Industrialization in the 19th century led to epidemic levels of lead poisoning, prompting renewed clinical interest.
  • Early 20th-century efforts focused on clinical aspects and initial prevention, while subclinical forms were later recognized.

Observation:

  • Pediatric lead poisoning emerged as a significant issue throughout the 20th century.
  • The introduction of tetraethyl lead in gasoline post-1920s caused widespread environmental pollution and public health concerns.
  • Restrictions on leaded gasoline in the 1980s have shown clear impacts on blood lead levels.

Findings:

  • The understanding of lead poisoning evolved from strictly clinical to recognizing subclinical and early forms.
  • Environmental lead pollution, particularly from gasoline, significantly impacted public health in the 20th century.
  • Current research investigates the health effects of low-level lead exposure to establish safe limits.

Implications:

  • Lowering hygienic standards occurred with the recognition of subclinical lead poisoning effects.
  • Public health interventions, like restricting leaded gasoline, have demonstrably reduced blood lead levels.
  • Defining "no-effect levels" for lead exposure is crucial for future public health policy and risk assessment.

Related Experiment Videos