A baby developed life-threatening lead poisoning after chewing on a homeopathic bracelet her parents gave her to ease her teething pain.
The unnamed nine-month-old’s blood lead level was 41micrograms, with anything more than five micrograms being considered abnormal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Investigators discovered the infant, from Connecticut, had been chewing on a ‘homeopathic magnetic hematite healing bracelet’, which some believe has healing properties despite the lack of evidence.
After the bracelet was tested, some its beads contained 17,000 lead parts per million (ppm), with maximum safe levels for children being around 100ppm, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that works under the principle ‘like cures like’, meaning diluting a substance that causes certain symptoms can cure a person.
‘Spacer beads’ in the bracelet were made of lead, which caused the baby to develop poisoning
No safe lead levels
Initially, investigators suspected the baby’s lead poisoning was caused by peeling paint in her house.
Yet, she would not have been able to reach this paint and her three and five-year-old siblings had blood lead levels of less than three micrograms.
After discovering the bracelet, the investigators were unable to track down its manufacturers as it was purchased from a local artisan market stall.
It is unclear whether the baby recovered.
According to the CDC, there is no safe amount of lead exposure as the metal can damage nearly every part of the body.
In many cases, lead exposure causes no symptoms, however, some suffer confusion, seizures and even death.
Teething products linked to seizures
In October 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation into homeopathic teething products that were linked to reports of seizures.
Although the analysis did not specifically look into lead, the regulatory body was concerned teething products may contain ‘natural’ substances that are not regulated.
In 2003 and 2006, there were several cases of severe lead poisoning and death linked to jewelry and charms marketed towards children.
After these instances, the CPSC set limits on the amount of lead allowed in products marketed to youngsters, and each year, there are recalls of children’s jewelry that exceed those limits.