Relation Between Quantities of Lead Ingested and Health Effects of Lead in Humans

Major metabolic effects of lead are briefly reviewed and available data on quantitative relationships between lead ingestion and development of toxicity in adults and children are discussed. Levels of lead ingestion producing clinical toxicity in adults are compared with normal levels of exposure. For children, comparison of levels of lead ingestion and quantities of lead producing toxic effects is not currently possible, as information on levels of lead producing clinical toxicity appears to be highly variable on the basis of the small amount of data available. However, recommendations on tolerable levels of lead exposure for childrne are proposed, based on estimates of lead exposure for children having normal and elevated body burdens of lead.