Abstract
Examination of dose-response factors in childhood lead exposure has generally been concerned with environmental and physiological studies. We have studied eight monozygotic and seven dizygotic twin pairs as a means of demonstrating a genetic influence in lead handling and toxicity. Lead exposure and toxicity were assessed by determinations of whole blood lead, (B.L.) hematocrit, erythrocyte porphyrins, (E.P.) and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity,(ALA-d). The intraclass correlation coefficients suggest that, in general, monozygotic twins respond more similarly than do dizygotic twins, in all parameters. The difference in correlation coefficients are significant at the p<05 and p<.01 level for E.P. and B.L. respectively, when tested by Fisher's Z transformation.
Since each twin pair was exposed, in utero and throughout life, to a similar environment, the variation appears to suggest a genetically determined difference in the dizygotic twins as compared to the genetically identical monozygotic twins. These data suggest the need for further evaluation of the genetic determinants of lead metabolism.
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Penny, L., Reigart, J., Loadholdt, C. et al. VARIABILITY IN RESPONSE TO LEAD EXPOSURE: DEMONSTRATION OF A GENETIC INFLUENCE. Pediatr Res 11, 438 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00413
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00413