Lead Sources, Toxicity, and Human Risk in Children of Developing Countries: A Mini-Review

Lead (Pb) is one of the oldest metals known to man and has been useful since the ancient era. However, it is known today that Pb is severely toxic to humans. Briefly reviewing the sources (both natural and anthropogenic) of Pb in the environment, this mini-review discusses how Pb continues to put the health of humans, especially children in developing countries, at risk. The toxicological processes through which Pb acts as a poison in the human body, primarily affecting the nervous system, are reviewed briefly and followed by a discussion on how the public is exposed to Pb and several case studies on Pb poisoning in children from developing countries. The case studies are on children from different regions of the developing world, and they show how highly children from developing countries are at risk of Pb poisoning. Further, the reviewed cases may be relevant to litigation as environmental toxic torts. Therefore, public awareness and introducing environmental preventive regulations concerning exposure to Pb need to continue globally.