Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “LEAD POISONING”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

A perspective of lead poisoning in antiquity and the present.

Seen in perspective, it is evident that lead poisoning is one of the earliest occupational diseases, described already thousands of years ago. The first major upswing in the history of anthropogenic production of lead was associated with the development of the Greco-Roman culture and the most recent followed the Industrial Revolution. At the peak of the power of the Roman Empire, lead production was about 80,000 tons per year, lead and its compounds were used with great inventiveness in numerous ways, and lead poisoning was pandemic, with the severity of poisoning proportional to the power and status of the class. Intake of lead by the aristocracy may have been as much as 1 mg/day. The resultant mental incompetence and especially the rapidly declining birth rate among the ruling class are now believed to have been major factors in the decline of the Roman Empire. Epidemic outbreaks of lead poisoning have occurred repeatedly throughout history and still occur today. The estimated 3.5 million tons of lead produced annually during peak production in the 1970's included about 0.4 million tons of organoleads. Such intense production has increased global contamination with lead enormously. Even under relatively ideal conditions the daily intake of lead is so much higher than in prehistoric times that investigators must pause to ask themselves what a proper control group really is. Are investigators merely determining the effects of additional lead exposure on systems already greatly perturbed by lead? If so, how can we find out?

Egypt↗
PubMed2000

Prevention of childhood lead poisoning.

Although past national public health efforts have reduced lead exposure significantly, lead poisoning remains the most common environmental health problem affecting American children. Currently, lead exposure occurs predominantly through ingestion of lead-contaminated household dust and soil in older housing containing lead-based paint; exposure can be increased with housing deterioration or renovation. Environmental prevention efforts focus on improvement in risk assessment, development of housing-based standards for lead-based paint hazards, and safe and cost-effective lead hazard remediation techniques. Educational efforts address parental awareness of lead exposure pathways, hygiene, and housekeeping measures to prevent ingestion of dust and soil. Blood lead screening is recommended either universally at ages 1 and 2 years or in a targeted manner where local health departments can document a low prevalence of elevated blood lead levels. Nutritional interventions involve provision of regular meals containing adequate amounts of calcium and iron and supplementation for iron deficiency. Lead chelation should complement environmental, nutritional, and educational interventions, when indicated. Collaboration of multiple federal agencies in a new strategy to eliminate childhood lead poisoning should further prevention efforts.

Chelation Therapy↗
PubMed1982

Childhood lead poisoning and inadequate child care.

Sixteen caretakers of children hospitalized for their first episode of lead poisoning and 16 caretakers of children with normal lead levels were interviewed in their homes to determine if caretakers of children with lead poisoning provided more inadequate child care than the comparison group of caretakers. Children were matched according to age, race, and sex. Correlations were found between children's lead levels and caretakers' scores on the measures of inadequate child care. Differences were evident in the overall physical and cognitive emotional care provided to these children. No differences were found in the caretakers' ages, number of years of education and family monthly income, number of occupants in the household, and family mobility. Implications of the intertwined roles of inadequate child care, subclinical lead poisoning, and later developmental sequelae are discussed.

Child Care↗
PubMed1993

Clinical presentation of the lead-poisoned child on mental ability tests.

Current literature on effects of childhood lead poisoning and high blood lead level on psychological test performance was reviewed. A pathognomic configuration of mental ability test scores is described. A sample of 18 moderately to severely lead poisoned children was found to have a significantly higher frequency of this score configuration than either a comparison sample or the Black subsample of the original WISC-R standardization group. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Sideroblastic anemia, lead poisoning and wine from Bordeaux].

The detection of progressive sideroblastic anaemia over a period of weeks in a 58 year old woman led to the diagnosis of chronic lead poisoning confirmed by serum lead levels of 2 mg/l. The alimentary origin of the lead poisoning was proved by the finding of high lead levels in the wine which the patient drank excessively. An inquiry at the wine merchant's showed that the local wine was not responsible but that the foreign wine used to fortify the blend had been contaminated. Chronic lead poisoning in alcoholics which has already been widely reported and the demonstration of abnormally high lead levels in wine, rise the problem of regular statutory surveillance of lead levels in alcoholic beverages.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lead poisoning in construction.

Ways to prevent lead poisoning and regulations intended to eliminate exposures to lead are the topics here. Lead registries and other studies are described that were designed to evaluate the extent of the problem and to address the lack of routine blood-lead monitoring in the industry.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Could your young patient have lead poisoning?

While clinical symptoms of classic lead poisoning are rare in Australian children, elevated body lead burden may have a small but treatable contribution to developmental and behavioural problems in individual children; its cumulative neurodevelopmental impact on populations of children is a greater public health concern. Children with blood leads over 15 micrograms/dL require blood lead monitoring and if persistently elevated assessment of potential environmental sources is indicated; children with lead levels over 25 micrograms/dL should be seen by a paediatrician. Chelation is not indicated in children with blood leads less than 55 micrograms/dL.

Child Behavior↗
PubMed2002

Lead poisoning in new immigrant children from the mainland of China.

OBJECTIVE: To define the prevalence, severity and risk factors for lead poisoning in new immigrant children from the mainland of China to Hong Kong, China. METHODS: New immigrant children from the mainland of China under 18 years of age were invited to join the study. Their growth parameters and venous blood lead levels (BLL) were measured within 7 days of arrival. Those with elevated BLL i.e. > 10 micrograms/dl (0.48 mumol/L) were assessed for signs, symptoms and risk factors of lead poisoning. Education on the prevention of lead poisoning and follow up BLL measurements were offered until their BLL normalized. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-seven children were recruited. Among them, 18.1% and 2.6% had BLL > 0.48 and 0.71 mumol/L, respectively. None had BLL > 0.96 mumol/L. Possible risk factors included contaminated drinking water (19%), herb ingestion (17.5%), pica, playing in dumping grounds, residing near paint factories or highways, habitual inhalation of car exhaust and cooking with petroleum. Symptoms and signs included abdominal pain, headache, short stature, and learning difficulties but did not correlate with BLL. None required treatment except for counseling on the avoidance of risk factors. About 94.7% showed a reduction in BLL 2-3 months after arrival and before counseling. All had normalized BLL by 9 months except 1 who had an X-ray feature of lead line. CONCLUSIONS: Lead poisoning is common in new immigrant children from the mainland of China. Environmental factors were most important while behavioral factors like regular herb ingestion might have contributed to the persistence of high BLL in the minority.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Use of orally administered succimer (meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) for treatment of lead poisoning in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether succimer (meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) would be effective in reducing blood lead concentration in dogs with naturally acquired lead poisoning and whether treated dogs would develop clinically important adverse effects. DESIGN: Prospective case series. ANIMALS: 13 dogs with moderate-to-high blood lead concentrations (39 to 120 micrograms/dl) and clinical signs of lead poisoning. PROCEDURE: Dogs were treated with succimer (10 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 8 h) for 10 days. Blood and urine samples were analyzed for lead concentration before, during, and after treatment with succimer. RESULTS: Mean blood lead concentrations on days 0, 3, 7, and 20 were 70.6, 32.7, 16.8, and 27.6 micrograms/dl, respectively. Mean blood lead concentrations decreased 53.6, 76.2, and 60.9% from pretreatment value on days 3, 7, and 20, respectively. Mean urine lead concentrations on days 0, 3, 7, and 20 were 70.0, 485.4, 254.3, and 28.3 micrograms/dl, respectively. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In dogs with naturally acquired lead poisoning, succimer administered orally for 10 days effectively reduced blood lead concentrations and eliminated clinical signs of lead poisoning.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Re-emergence of lead poisoning from contaminated flour in a West Bank Palestinian village.

Although contaminated flour was first described as an important source of endemic lead poisoning in the Middle East almost 20 years ago, the use of lead in community flour mills has not been eliminated and continues to represent a significant environmental risk. The authors describe an outbreak of lead poisoning in a West Bank Palestinian family and draw attention to this unusual but important source of lead exposure. All 13 members of the family (two children and 11 adults), were found to have lead poisoning following hospitalization for "gastroenteritis," headache, joint pain, weight loss, and vision difficulties. Seven females had low hemoglobin levels. Blood lead concentrations ranged from 42 to 84 microg/dL. Household flour samples obtained from a stone mill, previously closed because of lead contamination, contained 2,000 ppm lead. Flour from traditional stone mills reinforced with lead joints remains a potential source for lead poisoning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Childhood lead poisoning, New York City, 1988.

In 1988, a total of 796 cases of childhood lead poisoning were identified through surveillance by the New York City Bureau of Lead Poisoning Control (BLPC), an estimated 0.3 cases identified per 100 children screened. Sixty-two percent of the case-group children had blood-lead levels between 25 and 34 micrograms/dl. One- and two-year-old children accounted for 61% of cases. Of the children in the case group, 59% were black and 27% were Hispanic. From 1986 through 1989, the annual number of children screened increased by 27%, while the annual number of new cases fell by 30%. Because of incomplete screening, false negative results, and lack of information on children with lower but potentially harmful levels of blood lead (10-24 micrograms/dl), the magnitude of excessive lead absorption in New York City children is underestimated. These surveillance data indicate that lead poisoning among children is a persistent public health problem in New York City.

Black or African American↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lead poison prevention: a comparative review of brochures.

Although eliminating lead from the environment is the most effective way to prevent lead poisoning, outreach and education also must be addressed. This study reports a consensus summary of lead-poisoning prevention topics and reading levels derived from state brochures. This information may be useful in the evaluation and design of future lead prevention brochures. A point system was used to assess the readability and topic content of 20 brochures from 11 states. Only half of the brochures were written at the targeted grade level. Frequently covered topics were wash hands and face, provide foods that contain good sources of key nutrients, and use damp cleaning methods when dusting and mopping. The findings about topics and reading levels can be used throughout the development of lead-hazard prevention brochures.

Educational Status↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A method for the treatment of lead poisoning in the mute swan (Cygnus olor) and its long-term success.

A method for the treatment of lead poisoning in mute swans (Cygnus olor) is described. Chelation therapy, using sodium calcium edetate, was successful in resolving the clinical signs of lead poisoning in 49% of cases. Individually ringed swans were monitored after their release to the wild, in order to assess the long-term benefits of treatment. Re-sighting and recovery data suggested that at least 22% of swans treated for lead poisoning survived the first 2 years. The results indicate that despite treatment, once a swan becomes lead poisoned its chances of survival are reduced by 59% compared with untreated swans living in flocks.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Pathomorphologic findings of lead poisoning in white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons).

Nineteen lead-poisoned white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), including nine immature birds, were examined pathologically. Subacute lead poisoning due to ingestion of spent lead shots was diagnosed pathologically and confirmed by demonstrating high lead concentration in the liver. The liver lead concentration ranged from 6.9 to 67.7 mg/kg wet weight. The most suggestive gross lesions were mottled bile-stained liver in eight geese and proventricular impaction and/or the presence of lead pellets in the gizzard. Histologic lesions of the liver consisted of Kupffer cell hemosiderosis, large bile plugs in dilated canaliculi, bile pigmentation in hepatocytes, and bile extravasation and associated hepatic necrosis. Seven geese of the remaining 11 birds also had hepatic necrosis in the liver, the greenish discoloration of which was obscure macroscopically. The liver discoloration was considered a jaundice due to both rapid overproduction of bile from increased breakdown of erythrocytes and intrahepatic impaired excretion of bile. The severity of lesions was not correlated to the liver lead concentrations. All examined geese had hemosiderosis of mononuclear phagocytic system cells in the spleen and hypoplasia or edema of the bone marrow with increased numbers of polychromatic erythroblasts. These prominent changes probably resulted from excess breakdown of erythrocytes, hypercholia followed by intrahepatic cholestasis, and disrupted erythropoiesis in bone marrow caused by lead.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Screening for pediatric lead poisoning. Comparability of simultaneously drawn capillary and venous blood samples.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of capillary blood lead levels to accurately reflect true blood lead levels in children at risk for lead poisoning. DESIGN: A correlation study in which lead levels of capillary blood specimens obtained by four different methods were compared with lead levels of simultaneously drawn venous blood specimens. SETTING: A central-city pediatric primary care clinic and door-to-door home visits in one central-city neighborhood. PATIENTS: Two hundred ninety-five children at high risk for lead poisoning aged 6 months to 6 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood lead levels of simultaneously drawn capillary and venous blood specimens. RESULTS: Lead levels of all four capillary sampling methods were highly correlated (correlation coefficient > or = 0.96) with matched venous blood lead levels, with mean capillary-venous differences less than 0.05 mumol/L (1 microgram/dL). CONCLUSIONS: Capillary sampling is an acceptable alternative to venipuncture for lead-poisoning screening in young children.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMed1985

Experience in controlling lead poisoning in the People's Republic of China.

This paper summarizes the work done to control lead poisoning in the People's Republic of China. The work can be divided into the following four phases: (i) health surveillance of lead workers, (ii) health standard setting, (iii) research for early detection indicators, and (iv) improvement of the work conditions and health surveillance of "undeserved" groups. In 1949 prevention started with the initiation of the health surveillance of lead workers. Since then health surveillance has been used to supplement environmental monitoring in the early detection of lead poisoning, and the prevalence of lead poisoning has decreased. This activity has also helped to identify the needs for improvement in technological control. The next step has been the promulgation of health standards. The current standard for lead gives the maximum allowable concentration in air as 0.03 mg/m3 for lead fume and 0.05 mg/m3 for lead dust. Research on indicators for the early detection of lead has improved the quality of prevention. It has recently led to the addition of zinc protoporphyrin to the list of indicators in use. Finally the work conditions and surveillance of workers that had earlier been considered "underserved," particularly workers in agriculture and small industries in rural areas, are being improved.

China↗
PubMed1987

Health education, public policy and disease prevention: a case history of the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning.

How can health educators influence public policy so as to increase the resources for disease prevention? The following case history of the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning (NYCCELP) describes how an advocacy group sought to educate parents, health workers and policy makers about a major urban health problem. Using health education techniques such as small group meetings, mass media coverage and community organizing, NYCCELP hoped to persuade city agencies to enforce more systematically existing laws for the prevention of lead poisoning and to allocate more resources for screening and education. By defining the problem of lead poisoning broadly, the Coalition was able to attract diverse constituencies including housing organizations, public health advocacy groups, public interest lawyers, elected officials and children's rights groups. In part as a result of NYCCELP's efforts, the city government has screened more children for lead poisoning, hired additional health educators, enforced relevant sections of the housing code more often, and allocated new resources for lead poisoning control.

Child↗