[Chronic lead poisoning like a group pathology. Clinical report of 12 cases]. / Intoxicatia profesionala cu plumb ca patologie de grup. Raportarea unei serii de 12 cazuri clinice.

The objective of this article is to present a series of 12 cases with the chronic lead poisoning produced after a short but intensive professional exposure (in average 12-14 hours per day, 41.6 days) at mineral dust and oxides containing lead (technical revision of a oven and of a furnace network by mechanical and welding operation). After the first case with saturnine colic, all the workers of the same team (n=12) were hospitalised (average time was of 14 days) with clinical examination and by specific toxicological indicators. Particularly, for clinical picture were uncharacteristic and oligosymptomatic complaints. Occupational exposure was augmented by the level of Pb-blood (46.8-286 mg/100 ml are ranges), Pb-urine (221-637 mg/l are ranges), d-aminolevulinic urinary acid (22.9-99.1 mg/l are ranges) and increased urinary coproporphyrins (+ +, + + +) exceeding biological limits and high urinary discharge of lead induced by CaNa2-EDTA treatment. The biological effects of lead intoxication consist in the occurrence of stippled basophilic erythrocytes (2 cases with 46,000/1 mil erythrocytes), the anemia (only 4 cases with haematocrit L 40%) and the liver cytolytic syndrome (the increase of GPT, GOT and of g-GT). These changes and the polyneuropathic syndrome (the decrease of motor and sensitive speed velocity) were judged by toxic combination between ethanol and lead.

[The ecological accident on the Siret River. A possible cyanide intoxication of children]. / Accidentul ecologic de pe râul Siret. Un episod de intoxicatie cu cianuri la copii.

THE PURPOSE: Of our study is to assess the gravity of cyanide intoxication of children, in the ecological accident in January 2001. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included in our study 127 children aged between 2 months and 17 years. They were hospitalized in January and February 2001, in the "Sf. Maria" Children's Hospital. Case analysis was based on data of the emergency unit and units where the children were sent after primary care. We evaluated the patients from clinical and paraclinical point of view and we took samples of biological products in order to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: Age distribution was 0-1 year (4%), 1-3 years (7.8%), 3-6 years (9.4%), 6-12 years (33.8%), and 12-18 years (42.5%). The lapse of time between the ingestion of contaminated fish and symptomatology was variable. Measures were taken: removal from toxic contact, hospitalization, antidote administration, and treatment of complications. DISCUSSIONS: Although literature data shows that this intoxication appears after the age of three, we found that mother ingestion of contaminated fish, determined intoxication in nursings. Symptoms appeared at 3-12 hours after fish ingestion from the contaminated river and it was suggestive for the diagnosis. First aid measurements were necessary in specialized emergency unit and antidote administration sometimes only in clinical suspicion of intoxication. Correlation between clinical findings and toxic concentrations in urine samples confirm the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study tries to highlight those ecological accidents with cyanides present important consequences on people and animal's health. The therapeutic intervention must be fast in order to stop blood distribution of the toxic.