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Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C.... 2023Lead investigators in North Carolina found evidence that contaminated spices may contribute to children's elevated blood lead levels. We compared lead levels in samples...
OBJECTIVES
Lead investigators in North Carolina found evidence that contaminated spices may contribute to children's elevated blood lead levels. We compared lead levels in samples of spices and other consumable products by country of purchase to inform consumer safety interventions and regulations.
METHODS
From February 1, 2011, through October 22, 2020, North Carolina lead investigators sampled spices and other consumable products from 103 homes of children with confirmed elevated blood lead levels. In 2017, the study team purchased 50 products frequently sampled during lead investigations, as a "market basket" sample, from local stores in or near Raleigh, North Carolina. The State Laboratory of Public Health analyzed 423 product samples using mass spectrometry. We extracted environmental sample results from lead investigations from the North Carolina Electronic Lead Surveillance System.
RESULTS
The median market basket lead result was 0.07 mg/kg (SD = 0.17); the maximum lead result was 0.88 mg/kg. The median home lead investigation sample result was 0.26 mg/kg (SD = 489.44); the maximum lead result was 6504.00 mg/kg in turmeric purchased in India. Among all samples, products purchased in India had more than triple the median lead levels (0.71 mg/kg) of those purchased in the United States (0.19 mg/kg).
CONCLUSIONS
Purchasing spices in the United States is an action that consumers can take that may reduce their lead poisoning risk. Regulatory agencies should consider a lead limit of <1 mg/kg as attainable for spices sold in US stores and for ingredients of any foods that may be consumed by children.
Topics: Child; United States; Humans; Lead; Spices; North Carolina; Lead Poisoning; India
PubMed: 35060792
DOI: 10.1177/00333549211066152 -
Proceedings of the Royal Society of... Mar 1961
Topics: Brain; Brain Diseases; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Neurotoxicity Syndromes
PubMed: 13684723
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Medical Toxicology :... Dec 2013This presentation summarizes several of the rodent and non-human studies that we have conducted to help inform the efficacy and clinical utility of succimer... (Review)
Review
This presentation summarizes several of the rodent and non-human studies that we have conducted to help inform the efficacy and clinical utility of succimer (meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccincinic acid) chelation treatment. We address the following questions: (1) What is the extent of body lead, and in particular brain lead reduction with chelation, and do reductions in blood lead accurately reflect reductions in brain lead? (2) Can succimer treatment alleviate the neurobehavioral impacts of lead poisoning? And (3) does succimer treatment, in the absence of lead poisoning, produce neurobehavioral deficits? Results from our studies in juvenile primates show that succimer treatment is effective at accelerating the elimination of lead from the body, but chelation was only marginally better than the complete cessation of lead exposure alone. Studies in lead-exposed adult primates treated with a single 19-day course of succimer showed that chelation did not measurably reduce brain lead levels compared to vehicle-treated controls. A follow-up study in rodents that underwent one or two 21-day courses of succimer treatment showed that chelation significantly reduced brain lead levels, and that two courses of succimer were significantly more efficacious at reducing brain lead levels than one. In both the primate and rodent studies, reductions in blood lead levels were a relatively poor predictor of reductions in brain lead levels. Our studies in rodents demonstrated that it is possible for succimer chelation therapy to alleviate certain types of lead-induced behavioral/cognitive dysfunction, suggesting that if a succimer treatment protocol that produced a substantial reduction of brain lead levels could be identified for humans, a functional benefit might be derived. Finally, we also found that succimer treatment produced lasting adverse neurobehavioral effects when administered to non-lead-exposed rodents, highlighting the potential risks of administering succimer or other metal-chelating agents to children who do not have elevated tissue lead levels. It is of significant concern that this type of therapy has been advocated for treating autism.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Body Burden; Brain; Chelating Agents; Chelation Therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Succimer; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 24113857
DOI: 10.1007/s13181-013-0339-2 -
Lead poisoning in a 16-year-old girl: a case report and a review of the literature (CARE compliant).Medicine Sep 2016Lead is a toxic element of the environment which leads to major complications once it enters the blood stream, affecting multiple organs and systems of the body. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Lead is a toxic element of the environment which leads to major complications once it enters the blood stream, affecting multiple organs and systems of the body.
METHODS
We present the case of a 16-year-old girl, diagnosed with lead poisoning after occupational exposure due to the fact that the girl was actively involved in the family's pottery business.History revealed that the girl participated in the process of pottery, her father was also diagnosed with lead poisoning 2 years before. The patient's personal history underlined that approximately 1 year ago she presented with severe abdominal pain, being diagnosed with acute appendicitis and she underwent appendectomy, but the pain persisted, thus due to family history of lead poisoning, the suspicion of saturnine colic rose, and she was diagnosed with lead poisoning. The main symptoms and signs were severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and arterial hypertension. The clinical evolution was favorable under symptomatic treatment and chelation therapy.
RESULTS
Lead toxicity is a life-threatening condition because of its severe acute and chronic complications. In children, there is no safe blood lead level, prevention methods are, therefore, very important in order to avoid toxic multiorganic effects of this metal.
CONCLUSION
Even though the diagnosis of lead poisoning remains difficult in children, it must also be taken into consideration by the clinician facing a child with gastrointestinal or neurological involvement.
Topics: Adolescent; Chelating Agents; Edetic Acid; Female; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 27661040
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000004916 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2020Non-occupational lead poisoning is not rare, mainly occurring in domestic situations in children, but also in adults. Lead poisoning was observed in a 65 years-old woman...
Non-occupational lead poisoning is not rare, mainly occurring in domestic situations in children, but also in adults. Lead poisoning was observed in a 65 years-old woman non-exposed to risk that caught our attention with a diagnostic suspicion of acute intermittent porphyria according to recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and neuropathy of upper limbs. Acute intermittent porphyria was excluded by a laboratory investigation that showed instead severe lead poisoning. After several thorough examinations of the domestic environment, the source of intoxication has been detected in some cooking pots that released high concentrations of lead. Ethylenediamine tetracetic acid disodium calcium therapy (three cycles) reduced consistently blood lead concentration and, after one year, neuropathy was almost entirely recovered.
Topics: Abdominal Pain; Aged; Cooking; Female; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
PubMed: 32570886
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124374 -
British Journal of Industrial Medicine Apr 1966Lead intoxication has been recognized as a clinical entity since ancient times. Hippocrates (370 B.C.) was probably the first person to associate lead with clinical... (Review)
Review
Lead intoxication has been recognized as a clinical entity since ancient times. Hippocrates (370 B.C.) was probably the first person to associate lead with clinical symptoms, since when the harmful effects of lead on the body have been well documented. Early observations culminated in the brilliant monograph of Tanquerel des Planches (1839) in which the clinical aspects of the disease were completely outlined and most of the early signs of the disease were mentioned. So complete was this work that virtually nothing has been added to des Planches's observations since their publication. The earliest reference to lead anaemia was made in 1831 by Laennec, who described thinness of the blood and pallor of the tissues in cases of lead poisoning at necropsy. The first direct evidence of the effect of lead on red blood cells was presented by Andral and Gavarret (1840), who counted the number of red blood cells in cases of lead poisoning and found the count to be much lower than normal. Since these early reports a great deal of work has been undertaken to try to discover the means by which lead causes anaemia, but it is probably true to say that at the present time this mechanism is still not fully understood. This review is an attempt to draw together at least some of the theories which have been advanced in the past and to present them, it is hoped, in an easily accessible manner for future workers in this field.
Topics: Anemia; Humans; Lead Poisoning
PubMed: 5326074
DOI: 10.1136/oem.23.2.83 -
Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C.... Nov 2018In 2016, North Carolina blood lead level (BLL) surveillance activities identified elevated BLLs among 3 children exposed to take-home lead by household members employed...
OBJECTIVE
In 2016, North Carolina blood lead level (BLL) surveillance activities identified elevated BLLs among 3 children exposed to take-home lead by household members employed at a lead oxide manufacturing facility. We characterized BLLs among employees and associated children and identified risk factors for occupational and take-home lead exposure.
METHODS
We reviewed BLL surveillance data for 2012-2016 to identify facility employees and associated children. We considered a BLL ≥5 μg/dL elevated for adults and children and compared adult BLLs with regulatory limits and recommended health-based thresholds. We also conducted an environmental investigation and interviewed current employees about exposure controls and cleanup procedures.
RESULTS
During 2012-2016, 5 children associated with facility employees had a confirmed BLL ≥5 μg/dL. Among 77 people employed during 2012-2016, median BLLs increased from 22 μg/dL (range, 4-45 μg/dL) in 2012 to 37 μg/dL (range, 16-54 μg/dL) in 2016. All employee BLLs were <60 μg/dL, the national regulatory threshold for immediate medical removal from lead exposure; however, 55 (71%) had a BLL ≥20 μg/dL, a recommended health-based threshold for removal from lead exposure. Because of inadequate controls in the facility, areas considered clean were visibly contaminated with lead dust. Employees reported bringing personal items to work and then into their cars and homes, resulting in take-home lead exposure.
CONCLUSIONS
Integration of child and adult BLL surveillance activities identified an occupational source of lead exposure among workers and associated children. Our findings support recent recommendations that implementation of updated lead standards will support better control of lead in the workplace and prevent lead from being carried home.
Topics: Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Family Characteristics; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities; Middle Aged; North Carolina; Occupational Exposure; Oxides; Young Adult
PubMed: 30231234
DOI: 10.1177/0033354918795442 -
American Journal of Public Health Sep 2022To describe the types of health remedies collected during poisoning investigations in New York City over a 10-year period that were found to contain high levels of...
To describe the types of health remedies collected during poisoning investigations in New York City over a 10-year period that were found to contain high levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic. Between 2010 and 2019, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene collected 584 samples of health remedies during poisoning investigations and store surveys for lead, mercury, or arsenic analysis. There was a significant association between blood lead levels and estimated cumulative daily lead exposures among adult users of Ayurvedic medications. Also, average blood lead levels among adult users were significantly higher than levels among those using other types of non-Ayurvedic health remedies. Ayurvedic medications can contain very high levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic. This underscores the importance of screening for lead, mercury, and arsenic exposures within at-risk populations. The general ease of accessibility to medications raises concerns. There is a need for systemic change that results in primary prevention, that is, removal of the source through policy development and regulatory enforcement in the country of origin. (. 2022;112(S7):S730-S740. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306906).
Topics: Adult; Arsenic; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Mercury; New York City
PubMed: 36179284
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.306906 -
The Journal of the American Osteopathic... Jun 2017The One Health concept focuses on the interrelationship between the health of humans, animals, and the environment. There is a delicate balance among these... (Review)
Review
The One Health concept focuses on the interrelationship between the health of humans, animals, and the environment. There is a delicate balance among these relationships, and when an imbalance exists, the effects can be catastrophic. Such an imbalance occurred in 2010, when elevated lead exposure in rural communities in northwestern Nigeria resulted in the deaths of an estimated 400 children younger than 5 years in a 12-month period. Before the children became ill, waterfowl began to die in great numbers, a connection that would not be realized until much later. This review covers toxicodynamics and the neurotoxic effects of lead in the developing central nervous system, the role that animals can play in recognizing lead exposure and contamination, and environmental sources of lead exposure. The experiences in Nigeria may be especially pertinent to the emerging problems associated with lead exposure and poisoning in the United States.
Topics: Animals; Anseriformes; Child, Preschool; Environmental Biomarkers; Environmental Health; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Nigeria; One Health; Rural Health
PubMed: 28556859
DOI: 10.7556/jaoa.2017.075 -
BMC Gastroenterology Oct 2020Chronic lead poisoning (CLP) is a rare cause of abdominal pain and is common in young children, in whom the incidence is higher than it is in adults. As the symptoms of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Chronic lead poisoning (CLP) is a rare cause of abdominal pain and is common in young children, in whom the incidence is higher than it is in adults. As the symptoms of CLP are nonspecific, misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses often occur, especially in sporadic cases.
CASE PRESENTATION
We report a 28-year-old young man who was misdiagnosed with renal colic due to sudden acute abdominal pain. After a detailed medical history and physical examination, other possible causes were excluded, CLP was finally diagnosed, and he recovered after chelation treatment.
CONCLUSION
Abdominal pain is a very common clinical symptom in adults, which has many causes. We should be vigilant against chronic poisoning, especially CLP. Detailed diagnosis and physical examination are crucial in early diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Abdominal Pain; Adult; Anemia; Chelating Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Male
PubMed: 33054779
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-020-01482-x