Lead poisoning from a toy necklace

A 4-year-old, previously healthy boy experienced intermittent abdominal pain for several weeks. He was diagnosed with probable gastroenteritis, but his symptoms worsened. Laboratory tests revealed normocytic anemia, and an abdominal radiograph showed a metallic foreign body in the stomach, without evidence of obstruction. Endoscopy resulted in the retrieval of a quarter and a medallion pendant from the stomach. A venous blood lead level measurement was extremely elevated, at 123 microg/dL (level of concern: > or =10 microg/dL). The medallion was tested by the state environmental quality laboratory and was found to contain 38.8% lead (388,000 mg/kg), 3.6% antimony, and 0.5% tin. Similar medallions purchased from toy vending machines were analyzed and were found to contain similarly high levels of lead. State health officials notified the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, which resulted in a national voluntary recall of >1.4 million metal toy necklaces.     

儿童铅中毒（上篇）

铅是一种重金属,有四种同位素形式,化学熔点低,因具有形成稳定化合物的特性而用途极广,伴随人类的生产生活已有6000余年,成为现代生活不可分割的部分。铅广泛地存在于自然界并有其极广泛的用途,如:合金、颜料、弹药、蓄电池制造、压延产品、电缆护套和汽油添加剂等。然而铅对人体来说,没有任何生理功能,纯属毒物。铅具有极强的亲神经毒性,大量或长期铅暴露会发生急性或慢性铅中毒,影响人们的身心健康,尤其对儿童的体格生长、心理成熟、智力发育和学习行为影响更严重。目前铅中毒已成为发达和发展中国家的现代病,儿童是铅中毒的最易感人群同…