Notes from the Field: Childhood Lead Poisoning Associated with Turmeric Spices — Las Vegas, 2019

Abstract

The Poison Control Center recommended oral chelation therapy with succimer; however, because no succimer was locally available at the time of evaluation, succimer therapy (10 mg per kg body weight twice daily for 14 days) was scheduled to be initiated shortly after hospital discharge and after the home had undergone a lead assessment.† During hospitalization, child A’s hemoglobin was 12.3 g/dL (reference range 11.0–12.8 g/dL), with red blood cell microcytosis (mean corpuscular volume = 72.5 fL [reference range 76.8–83.3 fL]) and hypochromia (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration = 32.3 g/dL [reference range 34.2–35.7 g/dL]). The local acquisition of some of the leaded products raised concerns about potential continued exposure among vulnerable populations. [...]additional samples from the local market were obtained and tested; lead was not detected by XRF or by AAS analysis conducted by the NLLAP-accredited laboratory. Because the turmeric spice purchased from the local market had been removed from its original packaging, information regarding the product origin and lot number were not available.