Scientists have discovered a correlation while conducting a study on lead poisoning.
Discovering high blood lead levels in children and methylation of genes involved in heme synthesis and carcinogenesis. This, they say, was a mechanism for lead poisoning they were unaware of. While
the cases of lead poisoning have gone down as the material is used much less, there are still people suffering from the condition. Among the symptoms, including infertility, abdominal pain and kidney
failure can result as well.
The kidneys are the body’s mechanism for filtering the blood of wastes and toxins. When the kidneys become damaged and cannot do their job for an extended period of time, the condition is referred to as chronic kidney disease. With chronic kidney disease the toxins and wastes build up and damage to the organs begins to occur. Complications and heart disease usually follows and, if untreated,
death follows quickly afterwards.
The study looked at 140 children aged 2 to 10 years in Kabwe, Zambia. These children had lived in towns close to and distant from a lead-zinc mine, one which was old and badly polluted.
Experts say Kabwe is considered one of the 10 most polluted places on Earth as of 2013, because of this mine. The blood taken from the children was found to have lead levels three times higher than
children living further away.
The study found these increased blood lead levels correlated positively with higher methylation of DNA. This results in the expression of the genes that have a negative effect on the body.
This study is using an extreme environment where high lead toxicity is prevalent. In industrialized societies, such as United States, we have much less exposure to lead and other heavy metals. However, they still persist and we accumulate them in our bodies over time.
Anyone with kidney disease its always worth asking for a heavy metal blood test. Which should include lead. For more information about heavy metals and other environmental hazards which could harm your kidneys, be sure to check out our videos on YouTube.
