SS32-04 OCCUPATIONAL LEAD POISONING: DISCUSSION OF THREE CASES

Abstract

Abstract Objective Lead is a heavy metal used in several types of industrial activities including mining. The objective of our work was to report the characteristics of occupational lead poisoning in three workers. Methods We report three cases of lead poisoning among workers in clandestine lead mines in Jerada in eastern Morocco, declared to the Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Centre of Morocco (CAPM). Results Case 1: 52 years, working in clandestine mines in Jerada (Twisit, sidi boubker) since 2005, symptomatology (painful abdominal syndrome with pallor, headache, insomnia, nausea, vmsst), biology (anemia at 9.1g/dL, normal kidney function, alkaline phosphatase 319UI/L Gamma GT 544 IU/L, initial blood lead level 936.4µg/L), first DMSA (2,3-dimercaptosuccinique acid) treatment, control blood lead level 567.30µg/L. Case 2 40 years, working in clandestine mines in Jerada (Twisit, sidi boubker) since 2005, symptomatology (tingling of the lower limbs, lower back pain), first DMSA treatment, control blood lead level 241µg/L. Sept and Oct 2018: return to work at the mine, resumption of symptoms: abdominal pain, tingling of the lower limbs and back pain, blood lead level 537µg/L. Second course of DMSA: five days of treatment, control lead level 459µg/L. Case 3 42 years, worked in clandestine mines in Jerada (Twisit, sidi boubker) for 10 years, arrested two years ago, symptomatology (neuropathy of the lower limbs, gingival hypertrophy, abdominal pain), initial blood lead level 531µg/L. Conclusion Lead poisoning constitutes an often overlooked public health problem; collaboration between the clinicians, occupational physicians and CAPM allows early detection, treatment and prevention.