Abstract
Substantial differences exist between infants and adults in their exposures to lead, camium and zinc and in the sources of these exposures. In addition, metabolic responses of infants and children to environmental levels of these metals are different from those of adults. The toxicity of lead and cadmium to all age groups has been recognized for a number of years. Nonindustrial lead toxicity occurs principally among young children, whereas the toxic effects of cadmium in bone and kidney are throught to be manifested only after decades of exposure have produced a substantial body burden of cadium. In contrast, zinc deficiency has been reported to occur among infants and children far more commonly than has zinc toxicity. Despite differences in the likelihood that modern human populations will develop toxicity or deficiency of these metals, several general physiological and behavioral characteristics converge to modify metal exposure during infancy and early childhood.
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Mahaffey, K.R. (1983). Differences in Exposure and Metabolic Response of Infants and Adults to Lead, Cadmium and Zinc. In: Clarkson, T.W., Nordberg, G.F., Sager, P.R. (eds) Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Metals. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9346-1_34
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