Case of elevated blood lead in a South Asian family that has used Sindoor for food coloring

Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2005;43(4):301-3.

Abstract

After a routine blood testing, a local pediatrician discovered that a 13-month-old boy had an elevated blood lead level (BLL) of 57 microg/dL. Since the baby was mostly breast-fed, the pediatrician did a blood test on the mother, and the result showed a BLL of 85 microg/dL. As the mother denied any history of pica behavior, the pediatrician suspected a source of lead to which the entire family might have been exposed and tested the father's BLL. The results showed a BLL of 95 microg/dL, and the pediatrician informed the poison center. The subsequent epidemiological investigation revealed that the parents had used a product called Sindoor for food coloring. Laboratory analyses showed that the product contains more than 57.8% of acid-extractable lead by weight. Given the extremely high content of Pb in this product, Sindoor poses a serious risk of lead poisoning if it is used for food coloring.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Asian
  • Cosmetics / poisoning*
  • Female
  • Food Coloring Agents / adverse effects*
  • Food Contamination
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lead / blood*
  • Lead Poisoning / blood
  • Lead Poisoning / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Milk, Human / chemistry
  • Radiography
  • Spectrophotometry, Atomic

Substances

  • Cosmetics
  • Food Coloring Agents
  • Lead