Lead (Pb) and Epigenetics

lead paradigm

Lead exposure is not a solved problem. Throughout the last century, lead exposure rose, peaking in the 1970’s. Today there are millions of adults who were gestationally and developmentally exposed to lead levels that would be a cause for hospitalization today. We focus on developmental exposure to Pb-acetate as a model toxicant to explore it’s effects that often do not become evident until much later in mouse life. Likewise with humans, while lead is known to cause immediate toxic effects, the long term outcomes of early exposure are unknown.