Investigation of Lead Mobilization from the Buckshot Residues to the Critical Organs

Abstract

Lead exposure causes neurotoxicity, reproductive system dysfunction, renal failure, and blood and endocrine system disorders in human and experimental animals. In this study, we investigated lead mobilization from gunshot fragments to the critical organs (brain, heart, liver, and kidney) and its interaction with essential trace elements on experimental rat model. Thirty-five rats were randomly divided in five groups. The first group was a control and the others were subjected to buckshot implantation in their skeletal muscles (second and third groups) and abdomen (fourth and fifth groups). The control group and the second and fourth groups were sacrificed 1 month after the onset of experiment while the third and fifth groups were followed after 2 months. Blood lead levels were significantly elevated in both 2 month-followed groups and 1 month-followed intraabdominal group. There were significant increases in brain lead levels of both 2 month-followed groups. For the 1 month-followed groups, kidney lead levels were also significantly higher than those of controls. Results show that lead mobilizes from the buckshot residues in distance tissues to the critical organs and interacts with iron, copper, and zinc even though blood lead level sometimes remains unchanged. Our findings are crucial in revealing lead accumulation in critical organs of subjects carrying any gunshot fragments. These subjects and physicians should be in alert for emergence of lead-induced manifestations.

How safe is the use of herbal weight-loss products sold over the Internet?

“…27 Interestingly, lead interacts with iron, copper, and zinc in critical organs, even though the blood lead level sometimes remains unchanged. 28 Our findings show that the use of herbal products for the treatment of obesity may not be safe for human health. They have the potential to be harmful to humans as uncontrolled use of any substance in the human body.…”

“…27 Interestingly, lead interacts with iron, copper, and zinc in critical organs, even though the blood lead level sometimes remains unchanged. 28…”

The Effect of Exposure to Cd and Pb in the Form of a Drinking Water or Feed on the Accumulation and Distribution of These Metals in the Organs of Growing Wistar Rats

“…The distribution of Cd and Pb in the organs is not even. It is mostly determined by the rate at which blood flows through the organ, since toxic metals are transported with blood, and by the permeability of cell membranes [ 5 , 7 , 20 ]. In the presented studies, more than 60 % of Cd absorbed by the studied organs accumulated in the liver, more than 30 % in kidneys and less than 1 % in the brain, spleen, lungs and heart.…”

“…In soft tissues, the half-life of Cd is between 5 and 30 years [ 4 ], while for Pb about 30 days [ 6 ]. The distribution of Cd and Pb in the organs is uneven [ 7 ]. The degree to which metals are absorbed and accumulated in soft tissues is determined both by factors directly linked with the animal (e.g.…”

Effects of Chronic Light/Dark Cycle on Iron Zinc and Copper Levels in Different Brain Regions of Rats

“…Digested materials were diluted with deionized water to 10 ml. The last dilutions of the samples were mixed on a shaker for 15 min just before measurement [6,8,9].…”