Lead and Arsenic Found in Pregnancy Remedy Nzu, Officials Warn

An alternative treatment used by some women to reduce morning sickness caused by pregnancy may contain dangerously high levels of arsenic and lead, Texas health officials are warning.

Nzu, which is a traditional remedy sold mostly in African specialty shops, resembles balls of clay or mud. It also is called Calabash clay, Calabar stone, Mabele, Argile, and La Craie, officials said. Nzu may be covered in a brown or white “dust” and is usually sold in small plastic bags with a handwritten label identifying it as “Nzu” or “Salted Nzu,” according to a state health department news release.

While some women may use Nzu to reduce pregnancy-induced morning sickness, pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid using it because of the potential health complications caused by exposure to arsenic or lead, said officials from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Laboratory testing of samples of the product purchased in Texas stores found high levels of lead and arsenic in this product, health officials said. State officials are still investigating to determine the source of the contamination.

Lead exposure has been linked to numerous harmful effects, particularly to developing children who are especially at risk of developmental delays of the brain and nervous system. Arsenic is a cancer-causing carcinogen and excessive long-term exposure to the chemical has been linked to cancers of the urinary bladder, lung and skin, and other serious complications.

Consumers who have been ingesting Nzu under any of its brand names should contact their health care provider to make sure they are not at risk of developing health problems, officials said.

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