Abstracto

Review of the toxicity and immunotoxicology of mercury in marine and humans.

Weinbauer Lin

Lead is a heavy metal that has been found to influence the immune system in humans and other species. Lead is a known developmental immunotoxicant. Lead exposure at low to moderate levels does not result in a significant loss of immune cells, in contrast to many other substances that have negative immunological effects. Contrarily, alterations brought about by lead exposure are minor at the level of the immune cell population but can nonetheless have severe functional effects. An obvious shift in the balance of T helper cell function toward T helper 2 responses at the expense of T helper 1 functions is a defining feature of lead-induced immunotoxicity.