Health hazard evaluation report HETA 83-465-1674, Staco, Inc, Poultney, Vermont

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5044104

Ehrenberg, R L; Smith, A B

Possible exposures to elemental mercury were investigated at Staco, Inc., Poultney, Vermont at the request of the Vermont Department of Health. A medical survey was conducted of 84 of about 120 Staco employees and a comparison group of 79 employees from an electronics facility who were not exposed to mercury. Personal monitoring samples for mercury vapor air levels at Staco ranged from 25.6 to 270.6 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m3). Urine mercury levels among the 84 employees studied ranged from 1.3 to 344.5 micrograms per gram creatinine. Indications of positive neurological findings among the Staco workers also tended to be higher, particularly for static tremor (19% versus 10% in a control group) and difficulty with heel to toe walk (15% versus 3%). However, these findings could not be unequivocally associated with mercury exposures as measured by urine mercury level or a calculated chronic exposure index. No reproductive problems were found nor were there any problems with the thyroid function or renal function except for a significantly higher mean specific gravity among the Staco workers. No recommendations to control exposures or improve medical monitoring were made. A study on the behavioral testing of Staco/Chase and comparison group workers in Vermont is included in an addendum.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5044104
• Report Number(s): PB-86-221678/XAB; HETA-83-465-1674
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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