The Mechanisms of Lead Toxicity in Living Organisms

Lead (Pb) is a non-essential, toxic heavy metal with no known biological function that has caused widespread environmental contamination throughout human history. Pb toxicity represents one of the most persistent environmental health challenges, with no safe exposure threshold identified. The metal demonstrates remarkable persistence in biological systems, with approximately 90% of it stored in bone tissue for decades, mimicking calcium due to its similar ionic properties. Contemporary contamination primarily stems from mining activities, battery manufacturing, electronic waste recycling, and deteriorating infrastructure. Pb enters organisms through multiple pathways and causes severe health impacts across all biological systems, with particularly devastating neurodevelopmental and bone effects in children and cardiovascular and reproductive consequences in adults. On a molecular level, Pb disrupts cellular processes through ion mimicry, replacing essential metals in enzymes and proteins and leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and epigenetic modifications. This review examines the sources of Pb pollution and its toxicological impacts on bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, and humans. It explores the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, including neuroinflammation, genotoxicity, and cell death pathways. The paper considers current approaches for Pb removal from contaminated environments and therapeutic interventions for Pb poisoning.