Abstract
Accounts of adult lead poisoning are among the oldest and best known in the toxicological literature. Dr. Alice Hamilton, a pioneer in the area of occupational illnesses, described lead as one of the oldest industrial poisons, dating back to ancient Roman times (1). Today, however, it is children and not adults who are usually the focus of lead toxicology, because research has shown that their developing central nervous systems are more susceptible to the ill effects of lead. Nevertheless, attempts to reduce blood lead levels (BLLs) among adults should not be overlooked as an important public health priority - especially in the occupational setting.