LEAD-INTOXICATION EPIDEMIC CAUSED BY INGESTION OF CONTAMINATED GROUNDPAPRIKA

Objective: Report of a lead intoxication epidemic caused by ingestion of contaminated ground paprika. Design: Retrospective study of case hi stories. Setting Institutional, toxicological and medical referral cen ter for ambulatory and hospitalized care. Patients: One hundred forty- one adults consumed paprika contaminated with lead tetroxide (red lead ). Interventions: Intravenous calcium disodium versenate (edetic acid) . Main Outcome Measures: Measurement of zinc protoporphyrin:heme ratio of whole blood and the blood lead level. EDTA mobilization test. Resu lts: Fifty-three patients had symptoms and signs of lead poisoning. Th e most common clinical signs were colic and/or anemia. Twenty-six pers ons showed increased lead absorption without clinical symptoms and sig ns. Chelation therapy with calcium disodium versenate resulted in comp lete clinical recovery. Conclusion: Lead-contaminated ground paprika, not previously described as a cause of alimentary lead intoxication, m ay cause symptomatic poisoning.