"Hundreds Suffer Poisoning From Bullet Fragments In Their Bodies"

"Hundreds of people with bullet fragments lodged in their bodies have suffered lead poisoning from the slugs, including several people who have extremely elevated levels of the highly toxic metal in their blood, health authorities reported Thursday.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 457 gunshot-wound victims with elevated levels of lead in their blood when they looked at reports from 41 states between 2003 and 2012. Seventeen people had blood lead levels more than 16 times the limit recommended by the CDC.

Before the survey, fewer than 100 cases of lead toxicity from bullet fragments had been reported in the medical literature. A 2012 study in Colombia called lead poisoning from bullet fragments “an underdiagnosed condition that can be fatal if not recognized.”"

Lenny Bernstein reports for the Washington Post February 9, 2017.