Recent events have highlighted the dangers of lead in imported goods, as seen in the tragic case of a California resident who ordered a Vietnamese herbal ointment for hemorrhoids online. This incident sheds light on the presence of lead, a hazardous and toxic metal, in various products brought into the country.
Over the past few months, reports have emerged linking lead contamination to a wide range of items, including apple sauce, ground cinnamon, bracelets, sippy cups, water bottles, and dark chocolate.
Following a tragic incident in Sacramento, local authorities issued a public health alert after a woman passed away due to severe lead poisoning caused by a Vietnamese hemorrhoid ointment called Cao Boi Tri Cay Thau Dau. Tests conducted by the California Department of Public Health revealed that the ointment contained an alarmingly high level of lead, approximately 4% as stated in the county's alert.
The deceased individual had acquired the ointment through a purchase on Facebook, with the product being shipped to the U.S. by a relative in Vietnam according to official reports. While it remains uncertain whether the ointment is available for direct purchase in the U.S., California health officials are urging anyone in possession of the product to discontinue its use immediately and undergo lead testing.
The product is marketed primarily through Facebook groups in Vietnamese as a so-called "miracle" treatment for hemorrhoids.
The Food and Drug Administration did not respond to a request for comment.
Lead-based paints have been banned in the U.S. since 1978, but the metal can show up when paint peels or cracks in homes built before then, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yet lead can also be found in some products such as toys, jewelry, candies or traditional home remedies and has shown up in drinking water and in soil contaminated by industrial and other sources, the agency said.
The metal has been found in certain spices imported from countries including Vietnam, India and Syria, and has also been found in powders and tablets given for ailments from arthritis to menstrual cramps, the CDC noted.
The first three months of the year has seen a discomforting number of consumer warnings and/or recalls of products tainted with the toxin, including croquet sets made in India and sold on Amazon, jewelry made in China and sold at Skechers stores nationwide and child tiaras embedded with lead-tainted rhinestones, that were made in China and sold on Amazon.
Advocacy groups have long sounded alarms about lead.
A recent study conducted by the international nonprofit organization Pure Earth has revealed that 18% of over 5,000 consumer and food products from 70 different marketplaces in 25 countries contain excessive levels of lead.
"Lead pollution does not recognize borders," said Richard Fuller, the president of Pure Earth, in a press release announcing the study. "Our findings suggest that hundreds of millions of individuals are experiencing elevated blood lead levels due to prolonged exposure to household sources of lead, leading to serious health risks throughout their lives. More people are succumbing to cardiovascular disease caused by lead exposure than by high cholesterol."
Experts warn that long-term exposure to even small amounts of heavy metals like lead can result in a range of health problems, particularly affecting the development of young children's brains and overall growth.
While immediate symptoms of lead exposure may not be readily apparent in most individuals, continuous exposure to these metals is considered hazardous.
Exposure to lead during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood can have detrimental neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and decreased IQ. In adults, chronic exposure to lead has been associated with kidney issues, high blood pressure, and cognitive impairments.
