The Poison Review

Notes from the Field: Outbreak of Acute Lead Poisoning Among Children Aged <5 Years — Zamfara, Nigeria, 2010.  MMWR July 16, 2010;59:846.

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In this week’s issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC reports on their investigation of an outbreak of severe lead poisoning in Samfara, Nigeria that had become evident within the last year.  The investigators surveyed 119 family compounds, and found that in the 12 months following May 2009, 118 of 463 (26%) children less than 5 years of age in these compounds had died.  Most of these fatalities developed seizure activity before death. Many of the deaths had been originally attributed to malaria.

Blood lead levels tests in 205 children less than 5 years old ranged from 33 to 445 mcg/dL.  97% of the children had levels that would indicate starting chelation therapy (> 45 mcg/dL).

The cause of this outbreak was traced back to the recent discovery of gold ore in that area of Nigeria.  A company was employed to mine the ore, but villagers would also dig up gold, then break, grind, and dry the ore in their living compounds.  Unfortunately, the ore contained large amounts of lead, that contaminated the soil, homes, and water in those compounds.