Citation

Kaminsky P, Leone J, Duc M. Presse Med. (1983) 1988; 17(9): 419-422.

Vernacular Title

Incidence du saturnisme hydrique dans un service de médecine interne en région de sols acides.

Affiliation

Service de Médecine J, CHU de Nancy-Brabois, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2966381

Abstract

Between 1980 and 1985 patients living in the Vosges mountains and admitted to the internal medicine department of a university hospital were systematically investigated for chronic lead poisoning. The delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase assay was used for screening, and when necessary confirmation was obtained with calcium EDTA-induced plumburia test and lead assays in domestic water. Among 366 patients with no suspicion of lead poisoning, the condition was proven in 52 cases and found probable in 15 cases, i.e. in 18 p. 100 of these patients. Obviously, figures cannot be extrapolated to the entire population of the Vosges, but they indicate that lead-induced morbidity is widespread and that saturnism constitutes a major health problem. In one-half of the cases, chronic lead poisoning affected people over 65 while patients of that age group accounted for only 14 p. 100 of non lead-poisoned patients. Prolonged tolerance to the intoxication explains why saturnism has for so long passed unnoticed in the Vosges region, and it may be feared that the same applies to other regions with the same geological features as the Vosges.

Language: fr