A case of lead poisoning due to snooker chalk.
A 3 year, 9 month old child with pica presented with a blood lead concentration of 1.74 micromol/l (360 microg/l). The source of poisoning was snooker chalk (lead content 7200 microg/g). She was treated with intravenous calcium disodium edetate chelation. Thirty months later her blood lead was 0.39 micromol/l (80 microg/l). This case illustrates the need to be vigilant for more unusual causes of lead poisoning in the home.
Dargan
P I
PI
Medical Toxicology Unit, Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Trust, Avonley Road, London SE14 5ER, UK. paul.dargan@gstt.sthames.nhs.uk
Evans
P H
PH
House
I M
IM
Jones
A L
AL
D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010842:Pica / Q000150:complications*; D011998:Recreation
D002614:Chelating Agents; D004492:Edetic Acid; D002119:Calcium Carbonate