Lead intoxication--new insights into an old problem.

The epidemiology, clinical symptomatology, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic lead intoxication are reviewed. While acute lead intoxication has become rare, the elevated environmental lead burden is thought to play a causal role in hypertension. Lead may also be linked with neuropsychological disorders of children and possibly even chronic renal failure. The epidemiological and experimental evidence for this hypothesis is critically discussed.