More bad news for Maggi? 23% blood samples tested positive for lead poisoning

Just when India was recovering from the bitter taste of #Maggieinsoup, Indians got another health risk warning. Days after lead was found in instant food Maggi, an analysis, done by Metropolis Healthcare, of blood samples collected over a period of one year from across the country has revealed that over 23 per cent of the total samples tested positive with lead poisoning.


"A pan-India analysis of 733 blood samples collected over last one year has revealed that 23.47 per cent (172 samples) of the total samples tested positive with Lead poisoning," Dr Sandeep Warghade, Consulting Pathologist Metropolis Healthcare told PTI. He added that lead poisoning can be hard to detect and even people who look healthy can have high levels of lead.


"At high levels of exposure, lead damages the brain and central nervous system and can lead to coma, convulsions and even death. Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning usually don't appear until dangerous amounts have accumulated," Warghade added.


According to a WHO study, lead exposure is estimated to account for 1,43,000 deaths per year with the highest burden in developing regions.
Lead poisoning is a cumulative toxicant, particularly harmful to young children and can affect multiple body systems, he said. Major sources of blood lead include leaded contaminated soil, drinking water, petrol emissions, household dust, battery recycling, silver refining, paints (especially yellow), pigments, printing presses, ceramic pottery glazes, cosmetics, colours (including vermilion, spices, Holi colours), crayons and painted pencils, plant foods. In growing children, it causes low IQ, hyperactivity, attention deficit, learning disabilities and anaemia, he said.


Warghade cautioned that lead poisoning cases in young children are high as they tend to lick or eat lead-containing paint when it peels off the walls or while playing with toys.


Lead from a mother's blood can pass to the foetus during pregnancy, possibly giving rise to genetic disorders.


"Exposure of pregnant women to high levels of lead can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight, as well as minor malformations. Women with high blood lead levels develop early osteoporosis, lower backache, joint pain and persistent anaemia," he said.


(image credits: hgreatermalaysia.com)