Mercury exposure in chloralkali plants

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668691389720· OSTI ID:5200953

Bunn, III, W B; McGill, C M; Barber, T E; Cromer, Jr, J W; Goldwater, L J

The employees of two chloralkali plants were studied to correlate the signs and symptoms of mercury toxicity with levels of exposure. For purposes of comparison, the workers were divided into three groups. These groups were selected on the basis of hours worked in the mercury cell room or in other areas of mercury exposure. The population of the first plant was studied from 1957-1978, and preliminary findings were published in 1964. The second plant's population was studied for 3.5 years beginning in 1976. Time-weighted average exposure levels to mercury vapor in the high exposure group generally ranged between 0.05 to 0.10 mg/m3. No significant differences in the frequency of objective or subjective findings were noted among the three groups except for a lower post exposure systolic and post exposure diastolic blood pressure in the high exposure group in the second plant's population. There was no correlation of mercury vapor exposure with subjective or objective weight loss.

• Research Organization: Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, NC
• OSTI ID: 5200953
• Journal Information: Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Vol. 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
MERCURY
HEALTH HAZARDS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
BLOOD PRESSURE
CHEMICAL PLANTS
CORRELATIONS
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
PERSONNEL
TOXICITY
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560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)