Pennsylvania Lead Inspector Practice Test

Acute lead poisoning can cause which condition?

Diabetes Anemia Hypertension Arthritis

Correct Answer:

Anemia

Explanation:

Lead disrupts the production of heme, the oxygen-carrying part of hemoglobin. It does this by inhibiting key enzymes in the heme synthesis pathway, especially ALA dehydratase and ferrochelatase, which lowers hemoglobin formation and leads to anemia. On a blood smear you may even see basophilic stippling, reflecting the disrupted ribosomal RNA in red cells. Because anemia directly results from impaired heme synthesis, it is the characteristic consequence of acute lead exposure. Diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension don’t fit as immediate effects of acute poisoning—hypertension is more linked to long‑term exposure, and the others aren’t typical acute outcomes.

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