Dissolution of Lead Pellets in Saliva: A Source of Lead Exposure in Children
Tsuji, LJS; Fletcher, GG; Nieboer, E
| HERO ID | 1928191 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 2002 |
| Title | Dissolution of Lead Pellets in Saliva: A Source of Lead Exposure in Children |
| Authors | Tsuji, LJS; Fletcher, GG; Nieboer, E |
| Journal | Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Page Numbers | 1-7 |
| Abstract | Lead is a nonessential element, being a toxic metal that can adversely affect humans exposed to it, even at low levels of exposure. Indeed, children have been especially susceptible to lead toxicity with numerous epidemiological studies reporting neurocognitive functions to be inversely correlated with lead levels (blood or tooth-lead levels), even when confounding variables were controlled. Further, evidence is accumulating supporting the suggestion that there may be no threshold to the detrimental effects of lead. Thus, exposure to sources of lead should be kept to a minimum, especially for children (United States Centers for Disease Control [USCDC] 1991). In the past, lead was ubiquitous in the environment; however, over the last three decades a concerted effort has been made to decrease or eliminate sources of environmental lead. In North America, the virtual elimination of unleaded gasoline, the use of lead-free solder in the canning industry and mechanical trades, and the decrease in lead content of new paint have all contributed to the decrease in environmental lead. Although the USCDC has identified paint with a high lead content used in housing units prior to 1950, as the major source (reservoir) of lead for children (USCDC 1991), other sources of lead exposure must be considered. In the western James Bay region of northern Ontario (Mushkegowuk Territory), Canada, elevated lead levels have been reported for adults, children (Ontario Ministries of Health and the Environment [OMHE] 1989; Ontario Ministry of Health [OMH] 1993), and newborns. These findings were surprising because the Mushkegowuk Territory is a remote area, where water and soil-lead levels have been found to be very low, and air-lead levels well under the established safety guidelines (OMHE 1989). The source of lead exposure in this region appears to be related to the use of leaded ammunition in the harvesting of wild game. Several studies have shown that any animal harvested with leaded ammunition risks being contaminated with lead pellets and/or fragments, to the extent where the meat was not fit for human consumption. Further, two recent studies in northern Quebec, Canada, have found supporting evidence for the hypothesis relating elevated lead levels in humans to the use of leaded ammunition in the harvesting of wild game. Sex-adjusted data for First Nation Cree revealed elevation in blood-lead levels, compared to baseline data, two months after the goose harvest. Moreover, in a study by Levesque et al. (1998) leaded ammunition was reported as the source of lead for Inuit newborns, as determined by the stable isotope ratio technique. Even though these studies are suggestive that the use of leaded ammunition is a significant source of lead exposure, other sources of lead exposure must be considered. Considering other sources of lead exposure for children of the Mushkegowuk Territory is important, because observations and discussions with First Nation children and their parents revealed that it is common practice to place lead pellets in the mouth as a place of temporary storage prior to discharge in air-pellet guns. We hypothesized that dissolution of pellets in saliva could be a significant source of lead exposure. Boxes of Copperhead registered pellets (a brand commonly used in this region) have the following warning clearly displayed: "Warning: Lead pellets. Do not inhale pellet dust or put pellets in mouth. Wash hands after handling. Lead is a toxic substance listed under CA. Prop 65 as causing reproductive toxicity." A literature search revealed several articles concerning the risk of lead poisoning from the accidental or intentional swallowing of lead pellets, but none regarding oral exposure through the above-mentioned practice. In this paper, we measured the degree of lead dissolution in saliva samples obtained from children in the James Bay area, as well as the prevalence of the behaviour of storing lead pellets in the mouth, prior to discharge inair-pellet guns. |
| Doi | 10.1007/s00128-001-0211-y |
| Pmid | 11731824 |
| Wosid | WOS:000172751300001 |
| Url | http://search.proquest.com/docview/18407681?accountid=102841 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |
| Keyword | exposure; pellet guns; pellets; Health & Safety Science Abstracts; Toxicology Abstracts; X 24166:Environmental impact; H 14000:Toxicology |