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Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
04:55

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children

Published on: September 11, 2018

Metal exposure in the physically and mentally challenged children of Punjab, India

E Blaurock-Busch1, Albrecht Friedle, Michael Godfrey

  • 1E. Blaurock-Busch PhD, is research director at Micro Trace Minerals Laboratory and advisor to the International Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology (IBCMT) and the German Medical Association of Metal Toxicology Deutsche Ärztegesellschaft für Metalltoxikologie).

Maedica
|October 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hair and urine tests confirm long-term metal exposure in children, with DMSA challenge tests validating findings. Dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA) proves a safe treatment for lead overexposure, supporting chelation therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • Children in Punjab, India, were assessed for trace and toxic metal exposure.
  • Elevated levels of barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and uranium (U) were detected in hair samples, indicating chronic exposure.
  • Water samples revealed uranium and lead concentrations exceeding European safety standards.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if hair and urine analyses confirm long-term metal intoxication.
  • To validate the correlation between hair mineral analysis and urine challenge test results.
  • To assess the efficacy of Dimercapto Succinic Acid (DMSA) challenge tests for metal exposure in children.

Main Methods:

  • Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze 53 elements in 149 hair samples.
  • Urine baseline tests and DMSA (Dimercapto Succinic Acid) challenge tests were performed.
  • Water quality testing was conducted on randomly selected samples.

Main Results:

  • Hair analysis revealed significant levels of Ba, Cd, Mn, Pb, and U, suggesting prolonged exposure.
  • Urine tests corroborated hair analysis findings for these metals.
  • A DMSA challenge test increased urinary lead levels, confirming lead exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Hair and urine mineral analyses are complementary diagnostic tools for chelation therapy.
  • DMSA challenge tests effectively confirm chronic metal exposure identified via hair analysis.
  • DMSA is a safe and effective treatment for lead overexposure in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
DMSAIndiaPunjab childrenbariumcadmiumchelationhair analysisleadmanganeseuraniumurine analysiswater analysis

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