Lead poisoning epidemics

Automobile batteries being recycled at Thiaroye Sur Mer. Site where 18 children died of lead poisoning in 2008.

Lead poisoning epidemics refer to instances of mass lead poisoning, and usually occur unintentionally in low income countries. Lead recycling is a common cause of a poisoning epidemic, and it is commonplace and sometimes the only means of providing sustenance in poorer countries. The lack of immediate and obvious health effects often result in people taking excessive risks and few precautions when handling lead. These events can also cause disproportionate childhood fatalities, when levels of toxins become fatal in lower concentrations in children compared with adults.

Notable poisoning events

This list does not include episodes of fewer that 100 people affected, nor does it include individual lead paint poisoning cases, nor those caused by eating contaminated food or water. The cases below are discrete events of mass lead poisonings.

Large Scale Lead Poisoning Events
Name of Event Year Region Country City # Tested high* # deaths Source of Lead Exposure References Comments
Dong Mai2015SE AsiaVietnamDong Mai1020Auto Battery Recyclingref[1]ongoing
El Paso/Juarez1974N.AmerUSA/MexicoEl Paso, Texas3910Lead Smelterref[2]plant closed
Fiengxiang2009AsiaChinaShanxi6150Lead Smelterref[3]comment
Hunan2008AsiaChinaHunan13540Manganese Factoryref[4]comment
Jiyuan ?AsiaChinaJiyuan10000Lead Smelterref[5]99.7% of children poisoned
Doe Run2004S.AmerPeruLa Oroya100's0Lead Smelterref[6]plant closed
Michoacan2009?C.AmerMexicoMichoacan3110Lead glazed Potteryref[7]ongoing
Santo Amaro1985S.AmerBrazilBahia5550Lead Smelterref[8]comment
Thiaroye Sur Mer2008AfricaSenegalDakar150+18Auto Battery Recyclingref[9]closed
Torreon2000C.AmerMexicoTorreon111810Lead Smelterref[10]comment
Zamfara2010AfricaNigeriaZamfara1000+163-400Lead mining / ASGMref[11]ongoing
Kabwe2013AfricaZambiaKabwe1000+0Lead mining and smelterref[12][13]comment
  • number tested high is defined as a blood lead level greater than or equal to 10 micrograms per deciliter whole blood (ug/dl)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Daniell, William E.; Tung, Lo Van; Wallace, Ryan M.; Havens, Deborah J.; Karr, Catherine J.; Diep, Nguyen Bich; Croteau, Gerry A.; Beaudet, Nancy J.; Bao, Nguyen Duy (2015-10-26). "Childhood Lead Exposure from Battery Recycling in Vietnam". BioMed Research International. 2015: 193715. doi:10.1155/2015/193715. PMC 4637436. PMID 26587532.
  2. ↑ Ordóñez, Blanca Raquel; Romero, Lidia Ruiz; Mora, Refugio (2003). "Investigación epidemiológica sobre niveles de plomo en la población infantil y en el medio ambiente domiciliario de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, en relación con una fundición de El Paso, Texas". Salud Pública de México. 45: 281–295. doi:10.1590/S0036-36342003000800015. ISSN 0036-3634.
  3. ↑ Watts, Jonathan; Cui, Zheng (2009-08-17). "Chinese villagers storm factory blamed for lead poisoning of 600 children". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  4. ↑ Watts, Jonathan; correspondent, Asia environment (2009-08-20). "1,300 Chinese children near smelter suffer lead poisoning". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  5. ↑ "China to move residents from lead smelter base-report". Reuters. 2009-10-19. Archived from the original on 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  6. ↑ Fraser, Barbara (2009-07-01). "La Oroya's Legacy of Lead". Environmental Science & Technology. 43 (15): 5555–5557. doi:10.1021/es901734g.
  7. ↑ Fernandez, G. O.; Martinez, R. R.; Fortoul, T. I.; Palazuelos, E. (1997-02-01). "High blood lead levels in ceramic folk art workers in Michoacan, Mexico". Archives of Environmental Health. 52 (1): 51–55. doi:10.1080/00039899709603800. ISSN 0003-9896. PMID 9039858.
  8. ↑ Lalor, G. C.; Vutchkov, M. K.; Bryan, S. T.; Christie, C. D. C.; Donaldson, D.; Young, J.; Chambers, S. (2006-12-01). "Acute lead poisoning associated with backyard lead smelting in Jamaica". The West Indian Medical Journal. 55 (6): 394–398. doi:10.1590/s0043-31442006000600005. ISSN 0043-3144. PMID 17691233.
  9. ↑ Jones, Donald E.; Diop, Assane; Block, Meredith; Smith-Jones, Alexander; Smith-Jones, Andrea (2011). "Assessment and Remediation of Lead Contamination in Senegal". Journal of Health and Pollution. 1 (2): 37–47. doi:10.5696/2156-9614.1.2.37.
  10. ↑ US Centers for Disease Control (203). "Blood Lead Levels and Risk Factors for Lead Poisoning Among Children in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico" (PDF). United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Environmental Health, Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch/Health Studies Branch.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ "WHO | Nigeria: mass lead poisoning from mining activities, Zamfara State". www.who.int. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  12. ↑ Yabe, John; Nakayama, Shouta M. M.; Ikenaka, Yoshinori; Yohannes, Yared B.; Bortey-Sam, Nesta; Oroszlany, Balazs; Muzandu, Kaampwe; Choongo, Kennedy; Kabalo, Abel Nketani (2015-01-01). "Lead poisoning in children from townships in the vicinity of a lead–zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia". Chemosphere. 119: 941–947. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.09.028. hdl:2115/58817. PMID 25303652.
  13. ↑ "Notes from the Field: Severe Environmental Contamination and Elevated Blood Lead Levels Among Children — Zambia, 2014". www.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
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