PECARN STELAR Podcast – Episode 6: Environmental Toxins

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The emDOCs.net team is very happy to collaborate with PECARN STELAR (Seattle, Dallas/Texas, and Los Angeles) Node and the Emergency Medical Services for Children Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC) in presenting high-yield pediatric topics that highlight evidence based medicine with solid research.

This podcast is a collaboration between PECARN STELAR node and the Emergency Medical Services for Children Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC).


Show notes by:  Mohsen Saidinejad, MD and Ilene Claudius MD – Harbor UCLA Medical Center

 

Lead

Main concern is long term effects on intellectual development

Capillary levels are often falsely elevated; confirm with venous if high.

Sources: parents’ jobs or hobbies, foreign spices, folk remedies or leaded pain

Whole blood lead levels are what we are looking for.

  • <3.5 mcg/dL is fine
  • 5-19 mcg/kg- Repeat, take developmental history, take environmental history and modify sources, possibly fill out form for intervention (state dependent)
  • 20-44 mcg/dL- as above plus get x-ray for lead foreign bodies in GI tract, contact Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) or Pediatric Environmental Health Unit
  • >45 mcg/dL- Start DMSA or succimer

Admit for neurologic symptoms

 

Mercury

Can be elemental (from thermometers), inorganic (industrial salts, skin whitening products), or organic (fish via industrial sources).

Inorganic

Test: 24h or spot mercury urine collection in specialized container after 48h without seafood

Sx: Red palms and soles + rash

Personality changes

N/V/abdominal pain

Organic

Test: Whole blood level

Sx: Mainly neurological (paresthesia, ataxia, tremor, vision change, dysarthria)

Some GI but less than inorganic

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