Resumo

MOREIRA, Fátima Ramos  e  MOREIRA, Josino Costa. Lead kinetics in human body and its significance to health. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.1, pp. 167-181. ISSN 1413-8123.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232004000100017.

Lead is one of the most common pollutants in the environment. It is considered toxic to the human beings and animals and without any physiological known function in the organism. Lead toxic effects can affect almost all organs and systems of the body. Lead enters the body primarily through inhalation or ingestion, being directly absorbed, distributed, and excreted. The primary sites for inorganic lead absorption are gastrointestinal and respiratory tract. Once absorbed, lead is found in blood, soft tissues and mineralizing systems. Approximately 90% of the total body burden of lead is found in bones, body's major storage site. Around 5% of lead in blood is in plasma, representing the labile and biologically active lead fraction, able to pass the cells membranes and cause toxic effects. The absorbed lead is excreted mainly through urine and feces. Thus the knowledge of the lead kinetics is important to a greater understanding on lead toxicity, since the risks of health adverse effects are related to the total body burden of lead.

Palavras-chave : Lead; Kinetics; Bone; Plasma.