δ-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in blood as a biomarker for low-level lead exposure

Abstract

Introduction: Lead (Pb) poisoning at both low and high concentrations adversely affects haematopoietic, vascular, nervous, renal, and reproductive systems. Recent research has indicated that even blood Pb concentrations below 10 μg/dl (0.48 μmol/l) may be associated with negative health outcomes especially in children. Determination of lead in blood, serum/plasma, urine, hair, bone, teeth, nail, milk etc., is used in epidemiological studies. However, not all mentioned indicators equally reflect exposure/dose and internal dose/effects relationship. Objective: The aim of our research was to review recent literature related with studies of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrathase, and to evaluate whether it could be used as a biomarker of low-level lead exposure. Materials and methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar for relevant publications using the headings “aminolevulinic acid dehydrathase”, “ALAD AND lead”. The headings matched 5330 hits for “ALAD”, and 2270 hits “ALAD AND lead”, dated from the year 1986. We selected 70 articles based on the selection criterions and keywords presented below. [...].