Role of Lead in the Central Nervous System: Effect on Electroencephlography, Evoked Potentials, Electroretinography, and Nerve Conduction

ABSTRACT

The toxic effects of lead on the brain are well known, but its effects on EEG and evoked potentials (EPs) are not generally known in the neurodiagnostic community. Despite public health efforts, lead is still widely present at low levels in the environment. Even at low concentrations, lead is known to cause biochemical and physiological dysfunction. The present article reviews the effects of lead exposure on the central nervous system, with a special emphasis on the developing brain. Additionally, it describes the effects of lead on EEG, EPs, electroretinography, and nerve conduction studies.

KEY WORDS:

• Brainstem auditory evoked potential
• EEG
• electroretinography
• lead
• nerve conduction

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Drs. Ram K. Sindhu and Steven Rothenberg for helpful suggestions.