The immune system as target for subclinical lead related toxicity.

During the past two decades, scientific interest and public health concern have shifted their focus from issues connected with overt clinical lead disease to the detection of subtle clinical and biochemical abberations.1 This has brought about a change in the thinking on the health risks that are associated with lead toxicity.2 3 Although major emphasis has been set on lead hazards among p?diatrie populations, there has also been a gradual lowering of the occupational biological standards in many countries. The several investigations that have shown an association between low level, community related exposure to lead and impairment in child develop ment have provided a strong scientific basis for the decision of the Centers for Disease Control in the United States to define lead toxicity at a blood lead concentration of 10 mcg/dl.4-6 By analogy, reports that neurotoxic effects and abnormalities in the male