A cluster of lead poisoning among consumers of Ayurvedic medicine.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Breeher L ; Czeczok T ; Fuortes LJ ; Leinenkugel K ; Mikulski MA
• Description:
  Background: Use of alternative medications and herbal remedies is widespread in the United States and across the globe. These traditional medications can be contaminated with toxic metals. Despite several case reports of poisoning from such contamination, the epidemiological data are still limited. Objectives: To report on a cluster of lead and mercury toxicity cases in 2011 among a community of adherents of traditional medical practice of Ayurveda. Methods: Adherents of Ayurveda were offered heavy metals screening following the identification of the index case. Results: Forty-six of 115 participants (40%) had elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) of 10 µg/dl or above, with 9.6% of BLLs at or above 50 µg/dl. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Lead Metals, Heavy Occupational Health Public Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Ayurvedic Medicine; Complementary And Alternative Medicine; Lead Toxicity; Mercury Toxicity; Public Health Response Lead; Medical Treatment; Blood Lead Levels; Medicinal Chemicals; Epidemiology; Mercury Poisoning; Heavy Metals; Public Health;
• ISSN:
  1077-3525
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  303-307
• Volume:
  21
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065946
• Citation:
  Int J Occup Environ Health 2015 Oct; 21(4):303-307
• Contact Point Address:
  Laurence J. Fuortes, The University of Iowa College of Public Health, 2207 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
• Email:
  laurence-fuortes@uiowa.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1) ; Mercury (CAS RN 7439-97-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  Iowa State Department of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20060701
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
• End Date:
  20210630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:97bc9b0c0c5f37c8152b9f8fe1225b9e0065f674766f2d84adff640572c99815b814228424ef5cee98689c40ff7137bdf05f85508fd71ab07674288e05b7f543
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248527/cdc_248527_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 440.51 KB ]