150498 Imported herbal medicine products and lead poisoning

Monday, November 5, 2007

Paromita Hore, PhD, MPH , Bureau of Environmental Disease Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Munerah S. Ahmed, MPH , Bureau of Environmental Disease Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Sara F. Voit, MPH , Bureau of Environmental Disease Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Nancy Clark, MA, CIH, CSP , Bureau of Environmental Disease Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) recently investigated five cases of adult lead poisoning associated with ingestion of imported manufactured or hand-made herbal medicine products (HMPs) made in China and India. These products were either purchased from retail outlets in NYC, obtained during travel abroad, or received from relatives overseas. Cases used HMPs to treat skin rashes, fatigue, diabetes, and to promote overall well-being. Testing of these products revealed high levels of lead and/or mercury contamination and NYC DOHMH banned the sale of the products by retailers and wholesalers in NYC. In addition to enforcement actions, NYCDOHMH disseminated educational information to general and Asian communities via media outlets, health care providers, community-based organizations, and various points of sales. The increasing popularity of both Indian and Chinese traditional medicines necessitates an increased awareness among public health departments, providers, and the public about the potential hazards of using certain HMPs.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the health risks presented by the use of imported herbal medicine products containing lead. 2. Understand the actions taken by NYC DOHMH in response to the identification of adult lead poisoning cases associated with the use of imported herbal medicine products. 3. Communicate and disseminate health risk messages regarding the use of imported herbal medicine products containing lead to different populations

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Lead

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Herbal and Dietary Health Practices/ Education and Integrative Health Practices
See more of: Alternative and Complementary Health Practices