Lead poisoning in an art conservator

A. Fischbein, J. Wallace, Karl Anderson, S. Sassa, S. Kon, A. N. Rohl, A. Kappas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A case of lead poisoning in a female art conservator is reported. The patient had experienced excessive lead exposure while restoring an antique Peruvian tapestry from the Chancay period (1000 to 1500 AD) using a powdered pigment (cinnabar), which had been recovered from the same tomb in which the tapestry was found. Over two months, prominent neurological, gastrointestinal, and diffuse muscular symptoms developed. Severe anemia accompanied by basophilic stippling of RBCs led to the diagnosis of lead poisoning, which was confirmed by markedly elevated blood lead levels (up to 130 μg/dL) and impairment of heme synthetic enzymes. The severity of the intoxication necessitated chelation therapy. Chemical analysis of the antique powdered pigment showed it to be the source of lead exposure, in that it contained about 1% lead.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2007-2009
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of the American Medical Association
Volume247
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - 1982
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Lead poisoning in an art conservator'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this