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23
Lead Poisoning
The following 3 references of lead poisoning were received during the year.
In the first case information was received from the Divisional Medical Officer,
L.C.C., Health Division III regarding a child who was under treatment at the Hospital
for Sick Children and who, it had been discovered, had a blood lead level which was
twice the normal. A domiciliary visit was carried out by the Public Health Inspector,
who reported that the only apparent incriminating item was a favourite toy, a metal
motor car, which had been painted red and white. It was stated that the boy
continually licked this car
The toy motor car was therefore examined by the Public Analyst, who subsequently
reported that the red paint had an appreciable lead content
In the next case information was received from the Hospital for Sick Children
regarding a child who was under treatment there, and who, it had been discovered, had
a raised blood lead leveL
A domiciliary visit was carried out by the Public Health Inspector who reported
that the baby was in the habit of sucking the headboard and sides of her cot and was
also eating other articles - dirt lying around both inside and outside the house
which could have been contaminated by paint. This habit had been going on for some
considerable time
A partition on the ground floor had recently been painted and the Inspector took
samples of paint scrapings both from the cot and from the partition in the room
These specimens were sent to the Public Analyst who reported that whilst the
paint from the cot contained only negligible amounts of lead, the paint from the
partition contained 34 per cent lead
On the third case, information was received from the Divisional Medical Officer,
LC.Co, Health Division III, of a child who had been admitted to Whittington Hospital
with a diagnosis of Lead Poisoning
A domiciliary visit was carried out by the Public Health Inspector who reported
that the child had been biting on the cot, window sills and pieces of clothing The
mother had recently repainted the cot and window sills
Hie Inspector obtained a sample of paint from the child's cot, and two from the
window sills - one of the fresh pink paint and one of the older green paint. Two
further samples of paint were obtained from paint tins.
One sample of the fresh pink paint scrapings f-cm the window sill showed
appreciable lead content and, it was thought, may have been derived from previous
painting or from an undercoat.
The Paediatrician, Whittington Hospital and the Divisional Medical Officer,
London County Council, Health Division III were informed.