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FROM THE BENCH
Tracking Severe Lead Poisoning from Imported Products in California
By Linda Nguyen , research scientist , California Department of Public Health ; Dinesh Adhikari , research scientist , California Department of Public Health ; Ngoc Nguyen , research scientist , California Department of Public Health ; Key-Young Choe , research scientist , California Department of Public Health ; Josephine DeGuzman , research scientist , California Department of Public Health Environmental Health Laboratory ; and Jianwen She , section chief , Biochemistry , California Department of Public Health Environmental Health Laboratory
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), “ there is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects .” Even at low levels , lead exposure has been associated with decreased intelligence and behavioral issues in children . Lead poisoning is a serious health concern that can lead to severe outcomes such as brain and nervous system damage and sometimes death .
A 45-year-old mother from Sacramento County , California succumbed to severe lead poisoning after using an imported ointment for treating hemorrhoids . The woman purchased the ointment known as “ Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Tháu Dáu ” through a Facebook group that does not ship to the United States . The product was then mailed to her through a relative from Vietnam .
Upon investigation of the fatality , initial hospital tests revealed alarmingly high levels of lead in the woman ’ s blood , > 200 µ g / dL ( CDC ’ s blood lead reference value to identify children with levels that are higher than most children ’ s level is 3.5 µ g / dL ) leading to the suspicions of the imported ointment she had been using . The California Department of Public Health ( CDPH ) Environmental Health Laboratory ( EHL ) was called in to solve the mystery . As part of EHL ’ s emergency response capabilities the laboratory quickly mobilized to conduct a prompt , thorough analysis of the product .
Using advanced techniques of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ( ICP-MS ) and multiple subsamples , EHL measured extremely high concentrations of lead in the ointment — nearly 4 % lead . Rapid laboratory response was critical in identifying the source of the poisoning and a swift public health response followed . EHL ’ s detailed analyses provided the evidence needed for CDPH to issue a statewide alert , warning the public about the dangers of the product .
This tragic event serves as an important reminder of the hidden dangers posed by unregulated imported products , and the essential role public health laboratories have in safeguarding communities from toxic exposures . EHL ’ s involvement was pivotal in not only identifying the lethal contamination but also in preventing further tragedies . g
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