Lead intoxication in rural Albania.

In early February 1996 severe lead intoxication in humans was reported from a rural area of Albania. An entire family of 5 individuals was involved and 2 of them died. The origin of the poisoning was lead-contaminated flour used by the family on a regular basis in their diet. The flour lead levels ranged between 550 to 800 ppm. Following 2 days of treatment with EDTA-Ca the blood lead concentration in survivors varied between 16 and 58 micrograms/dL blood.