Bioavailability of Biologically Detoxified Lead: Risks Arising from Consumption of Polluted Mussels

The possible risk for human health arising from consumption of lead-polluted shellfish was suggested by experiments on the bioavailability for mice of a "biologically detoxified" form of the metal. In this work, young mice were fed with a mixed diet including mussels collected in a Pb-polluted area. Metal concentrations in blood, kidney, liver, urine, and feces and the activity of erythrocytic delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase were determined after 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Comparisons were made with mice treated with balanced diet, mixed diet including control mussels, and drinking water with lead dissolved as acetate. In mice fed polluted mussels, lead concentrations increased in blood, kidney, and liver, whereas no significant accumulation was observed in urine. Different responses in mice treated with Pb(CH3COO)2 in drinking water are probably due to the diversity of lead chemical form in the two treatments. Our results demonstrate the bioavailability of biologically detoxified lead that can be transferred to a consumer with possible consequences also for human health.