Acute Lead Poisoning from a Fishing Sinker

A 7-year-old boy accidentally swallowed a round fishing sinker (φ15mm). The sinker lead content was 99% or more. We could not introduce the sinker into his duodenum. The sinker was removed endoscopically 6 hours after the ingestion. The blood concentration of lead increased to 38.0μg/dl. This is the first report in which only 6hr retention of solid lead in the stomach elevated the blood lead concentration. Therefore, lead is a harmful metal even with only short term exposure. We recommend early evacuation or induction into the small intestine.