Lead (Pb) in urine (chromatography)
Among heavy toxic metals, plumb is the most frequent cause of poisoning. It is widely used in industry and is found in small quantities in the environment. Over the years it has been used in the manufacture of paints, water pipes, pesticides and canning jars. Its content is elevated in old dilapidated houses and in areas surrounding many industrial plants. The degree of harm and severity of symptoms depends on the metal dose and duration of exposure, the age of the person, his nutritional status, the presence of concomitant diseases and pathologies. For example, people with malnutrition and iron deficiency have significantly increased absorption of plumb from the intestine. Children and pregnant women are most susceptible to the toxic effects of this metal. Plumb can pass through the placenta from the mother to the fetus, which can not only affect the formation of organs and tissues of the child, but also contribute to premature birth or premature delivery.
Plumb accumulates mainly in the bones and is very slowly excreted from the body. Acute poisoning occurs rarely and is manifested by encephalopathy, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, stool disorders, convulsions, and in some cases ends in coma and even death. Chronic plumb exposure may be asymptomatic for a long time. Its signs can be pale gray skin color, dark fringe on the edges of the gums, weakness, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, anemia, headaches, cramps in the stomach, disorders of the kidney, nervous and sexual systems. The concentration of lead in the blood correlates with its content throughout the body. It can be used to determine the severity of poisoning and resolve the issue of treatment tactics and prescribing antidotes, and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy.