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Updated: Aug 3, 2025
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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
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Early-Life Lead Exposure: Risks and Neurotoxic Consequences
Geir Bjørklund1, Torsak Tippairote2, Tony Hangan3
1Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Toften 24, Mo i Rana, 8610, Norway.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
|April 9, 2023
Summary
Lead (Pb) exposure, even at low levels, poses significant neurotoxic risks, especially for children. Preventing early-life exposure is crucial to mitigate long-term neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral effects.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neurotoxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Lead (Pb) has no biological role in humans, and no safe exposure level exists.
- Pb exposure is a global concern due to its neurotoxic effects, particularly on developing fetuses and children.
- Even with reduced environmental Pb, stored Pb can cause neurotoxic risks later in life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current research on lead neurotoxicology.
- To identify and assess emerging trends in the field of lead neurotoxicology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of cumulative studies.
- Analysis of neurotoxicological mechanisms and emerging trends.
Main Results:
- Pb exposure causes neurochemical and neuro-immunological damage, leading to neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral issues.
- Early-life Pb exposure can result in later-life neurodegeneration via epigenetic changes and endogenous Pb release.
- Mechanisms include direct neurochemical effects, oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic alterations; nutritional status modulates Pb toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Preventing early-life lead exposure is essential for mitigating diverse Pb-induced neurotoxic impacts across all age groups.
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