Optimum Level of Lead in Bone
By: Reckless AlterTotal Views: 145, Word Count: 502,
Bones are a vital structure of the human body as they are our framework and they support the weight of our body, defend our main organs such as heart, lungs, kidneys and liver as well as enable us to move our muscles lithely and bodies freely. We can perform the simplest movements like running, standing, crawling, walking and sitting with the support of our spine. All these movements would be impossible without this support. There is an optimum level of lead in bone in men as compared to women.
Optimum Level of Lead in Bone
Lead is largely stored in the human body in calcified tissues; about 88 to 90% of the total lead burden is contained within bone in non-occupationally exposed adults. The total lead content of bone is reported op to 220 mg in 60 to 70 year old men and less in women. The proceeds rate of lead in trabecular and cortical bone is slow, quantitative estimates of the half life vary but there is an agreement that it’s of the order of years or even decades. Thus, though childhood and most of adult life, the exposure to lead from both environmental and occupational sources results in an increased lead concentration within the bone matrix.
A measure of bone lead content thus reflects cumulative or integrated and thus chronic or long term lead exposure and provides a useful substitute indicator of the cumulative dose of lead presented over time to the target organs of lead. In vivo bone lead measurements might thus clarify the risks linked with lead exposure in two ways.
Health effects that are connected with chronic lead exposure might be recognized by their association with bone lead level and bone lead measurements might eventually allow the recognition of subjects at risk from mobilization of their body lead stores and allow suitable interference strategies to be devised.
Health Effects of Lead
The damaging health effects of lead have been known for thousands of years, but observations of harmful effects at low levels of lead have been the subject of increasing concern in the past few years. Recent study has pointed to potential dangers faced by specific populations who risk lead exposure from mobilization of their body e.g. children, pregnant women and osteoporotic.
Today lead toxicity is reported to be a major public health problem in the United States. The general population is exposed to lead in their environment. This lead could come from numerous sources such as house paint, soil and water. Though lead has been banned from house paint older housing stock still comprises lead paint which could pollute household dust. Lead was removed from American gasoline in the early 1980’s and lead levels in children have fallen significantly.
Environmental exposure to lead is not the only source of lead related health effects. Several industrial workers in the United States have possible occupational exposure to lead and lead poisoning is still seen at occupational health clinics.
About the Author
Dr. Reckless Alter is graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine as a physician in 1969 and went on to earn his medical degree in 1973. For over 25 years he has been a pioneer in the field of surgery, with a special focus on wellness medicine and hormones for men. Dr. Reckless is currently a board-certified Family Practitioner and a precautionary Medicine specialist. He has helped heal many problems of men through his treatment.
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