University of Illinois at Chicago/Cook County Hospital (Stroger), Toxikon Consortium, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2012 Jul;50(6):528-31. doi: 10.3109/15563650.2012.698018.
Lead, the 82nd element in our periodic table, has accompanied humankind throughout the millennia of our history and development. As a ubiquitous heavy metal, lead is used in multiple applications and nine billion tons continue to be extracted globally every year. Although the United States has succeeded in limiting lead exposure among its own citizens by banning the use of lead in gasoline and household paint, while instituting improved working conditions for those who are exposed to lead in the workplace, the battle against lead is not won. In addition, it continues to plague the rest of the world today; the United States has played an increasing role in the world's exposure to lead and plans to stop are currently stalled. The year 2011 marked the centennial celebration of the life's work of Dr. Alice Hamilton in exposing lead poisoning among industrial workers in Chicago, Illinois. Her legacy provides us with the opportunity to look back and reevaluate our leaded history in the US. It also reminds us that there is more to be done to mitigate lead poisoning both domestically and in the developing world.
铅是我们元素周期表上的第 82 号元素，在人类几千年的历史和发展中一直伴随着我们。作为一种普遍存在的重金属，铅被应用于多种领域，全球每年仍有 90 亿吨被开采。尽管美国已经成功通过禁止在汽油和家庭涂料中使用铅，以及为在工作场所接触铅的人改善工作条件，限制了本国公民接触铅的机会，但这场与铅的斗争还没有取得胜利。此外，铅如今仍在困扰着世界其他地区；美国在全球接触铅的问题上发挥了越来越大的作用，而目前停止使用铅的计划已经陷入停滞。2011 年是爱丽丝·汉密尔顿博士（Dr. Alice Hamilton）揭露伊利诺伊州芝加哥市工业工人铅中毒工作百年纪念。她的遗产为我们提供了一个回顾和重新评估美国含铅历史的机会。这也提醒我们，无论是在国内还是在发展中国家，都需要采取更多措施来减轻铅中毒。
