05-09-2007, 08:31 PM
Exactly. While enough lead can kill you directly, generally it just messes you up- causes anaemia, harms your immune system, organ, nerve and mental functions. I just read that it's suggested to be the causitive agent in the supposedly prevalent gout suffered by the Roman upper class- no reference was given, but it seems plausible.
Lead acts the way many toxins do by interfering with normal cellular enzyme activity- it inhibits a few important ones thus decreasing or halting functions that have reaching effects. The most important one is the enzyme that is involved in making a basic component of hemoglobin- the oxygen-carrier of blood cells. Decrease the oxygen around and everything suffers- hence some of the multisystem and more long-term effects of lead poisoning. Also the body can't effectively dispose of lead so it accumulates and its effects continue and worsen over time if the exposure continues.
Lead acts the way many toxins do by interfering with normal cellular enzyme activity- it inhibits a few important ones thus decreasing or halting functions that have reaching effects. The most important one is the enzyme that is involved in making a basic component of hemoglobin- the oxygen-carrier of blood cells. Decrease the oxygen around and everything suffers- hence some of the multisystem and more long-term effects of lead poisoning. Also the body can't effectively dispose of lead so it accumulates and its effects continue and worsen over time if the exposure continues.
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