lead-tetroxide and Lead-Poisoning

Traditional medicines or ethnic remedies, such as Ayurvedic drug of India, have been reported in numerous cases to be one of the main exposure risks for severe lead poisoning.. We describe the poisoning of 2 young children from a Chinese family in Guangzhou as a result of the use of traditional Chinese medicine instead of baby powder.. A 3-y-old boy with blood lead levels (BLLs) of 303 μg/l and his 6-month-old sister with BLLs of 385 μg/l were hospitalized. Laboratory tests showed that the powder, which was purchased in Ganzhou during a family visit, contained a lead concentration of 214,000 mg/kg. A subsequent inspection revealed that the lead contamination was in fact achieved by the addition of Hongdan to talcum. In Ganzhou, it was a popular practice for young children to apply this leaded powder on their skins in order to treat and prevent dermatitis. We sampled 16 Hongdans and observed an average lead content of 817,000 mg/kg that was comprised mainly of lead tetraoxide (Pb(3)O(4)). Lead tetraoxide is also an accessible raw material for paint and battery industries.. The health authority of China should reevaluate the safety of such traditional remedy and weigh its toxicity versus its potential benefits. Clinicians should be aware of this leaded powder when treating a lead poisoning case that shows no explainable cause.

Topics: Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Lead poisoning affects children adversely worldwide. In the United States, elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) (>10 microg/dL) result primarily from exposure to lead-based paint or from associated lead-contaminated dust and soil; however, other sources of lead exposure, including folk remedies, Mexican terra cotta pottery, and certain imported candies, also have been associated with elevated BLLs in children. This report describes five cases in California of lead poisoning from atypical sources. Health-care providers should be aware of the potential hazards of certain food products, and community members should be educated about potential sources of lead poisoning for children.

Topics: California; Candy; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Medicine, Traditional; Mexico; Tamarindus

Lead exposure was assessed in a random cohort of 70 male papier mâché workers and compared with 35 age and sex matched controls. Blood-lead levels in workers were significantly higher than in controls (Mean 68.07 +/- 44.64 ug/dl vs 25.52 +/- 16.56 ug/dl respectively; P < 0.001). Urinary lead was also higher in workers (128.53 +/- 52.61 ug/l) compared to controls (91.18 +/- 27.06, P < 0.001), but excretion of urinary coproporphyrin in the two groups was not significantly different (102.78 +/- 153.42 vs 70.03 +/- 27.06 ug/l, P > 0.05). Blood levels bore a significant correlation with age but did not bear any correlation with the duration of exposure. Various modes of exposure to lead included hand mixing of paints, skin application of the paint to match shades and making point of the brush using lips and the tongue.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Carbonates; Humans; India; Industry; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Occupational Diseases; Paint

Report of a lead intoxication epidemic caused by ingestion of contaminated ground paprika.. Retrospective study of case histories.. Institutional, toxicological and medical referral center for ambulatory and hospitalized care.. One hundred forty-one adults consumed paprika contaminated with lead tetroxide (red lead).. Intravenous calcium disodium versenate (edetic acid).. Measurement of zinc protoporphyrin:heme ratio of whole blood and the blood lead level. EDTA mobilization test.. Fifty-three patients had symptoms and signs of lead poisoning. The most common clinical signs were colic and/or anemia. Twenty-six persons showed increased lead absorption without clinical symptoms and signs. Chelation therapy with calcium disodium versenate resulted in complete clinical recovery.. Lead-contaminated ground paprika, not previously described as a cause of alimentary lead intoxication, may cause symptomatic poisoning.

Topics: Adult; Antidotes; Capsicum; Chelating Agents; Cohort Studies; Disease Outbreaks; Edetic Acid; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Food Contamination; Humans; Hungary; Injections, Intravenous; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Middle Aged; Plants, Medicinal; Protoporphyrins; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Occupational Diseases

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Dimercaprol; Edetic Acid; Female; Heme; Humans; Infant; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Radiography; Toluene

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male

Topics: Child; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning

Topics: California; Child; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Humans; Infant; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Medicine, Traditional; Mexico

A new source of toxic lead ingestion has been identified roentgenologically in Mexican-American children and adults. Azarcón is an orange powder that contains 86% to 95% lead tetroxide (Pb3O4). At least three children have been treated with this substance by folk healers for relief of abdominal symptoms. Other Hispanic medical folklores may include this toxic "remedy."

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Infant; Intestinal Absorption; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Medicine, Traditional; Mexico; Radiography

A case of lead poisoning in a female art conservator is reported. The patient had experienced excessive lead exposure while restoring an antique Peruvian tapestry from the Chancay period (1000 to 1500 AD) using a powdered pigment (cinnabar), which had been recovered from the same tomb in which the tapestry was found. Over two months, prominent neurological, gastrointestinal, and diffuse muscular symptoms developed. Severe anemia accompanied by basophilic stippling of RBCs led to the diagnosis of lead poisoning, which was confirmed by markedly elevated blood lead levels (up to 130 micrograms/dL) and impairment of heme synthetic enzymes. The severity of the intoxication necessitated chelation therapy. Chemical analysis of the antique powdered pigment showed it to be the source of lead exposure, in that it contained about 1% lead.

Topics: Adult; Anemia; Art; Chelating Agents; Female; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Mercury; Mercury Compounds; Occupational Diseases