Acute lead poisoning in an indoor firing range

• Authors: Ladislav Štěpánek , Marie Nakládalová , Viktor Klementa , Veronika Ferenčíková

Abstracts

EN

The presented case demonstrates that acute lead poisoning may occur due to just short-term exposure to a mixture of lead-containing dust and ammunition. Such exposure may result in high blood lead levels persisting for years in the absence of any symptoms. A middle-aged male with a history of an approximately 7-day cleanup of an old recreational firing range with large ammunition and dust deposits presented to an emergency department with abdominal pain, dyspnea, fatigue and impaired cognitive function. Given his occupational history, specific tests were performed that showed high lead concentrations in both blood and urine. The patient was diagnosed with acute lead poisoning. He was started on chelation therapy that improved both clinical and laboratory parameters. Over a subsequent nearly 3-year follow-up, the patient’s blood lead levels fluctuated and continued to be increased. Given the absence of other sources of lead exposure, these were likely due to the formation of bone deposits. Med Pr. 2020;71(3):375–9

Keywords

EN

lead poisoning; blood lead level; occupational exposure to lead; urine lead level; anemia; chelation therapy

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: Medycyna Pracy
• Year: 2020
• Volume: 71
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 375-379

Dates

published

2020

Contributors

author

Ladislav Štěpánek

• University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic (Department of Occupational Medicine)
• Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Occupational Medicine)

author

Marie Nakládalová

• University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic (Department of Occupational Medicine)
• Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Occupational Medicine)

author

Viktor Klementa

• University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic (Department of Internal Medicine III – Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology)
• Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Internal Medicine III – Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology)

author

Veronika Ferenčíková

• Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic (Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Clinic of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/mp.5893.00930

Biblioteka Nauki

2085522