Surveillance of workers exposed to mercury vapor:validation of a previously proposed biological threshold limit value for mercury concentration in urine

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700070106· OSTI ID:5720177

Roels, H; Gennart, J P; Lauwerys, R; Buchet, J P; Malchaire, J; Bernard, A

A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out among subjects exposed to mercury (Hg) vapor, ie, a group of 131 male workers (mean age: 30.9 yr; average duration of exposure, 4.8 yr) and a group of 54 female workers (mean age, 29.9 yr; average duration of exposure 7 yr). The results were compared with those obtained in well-matched control groups comprising 114 and 48 male and female workers, respectively. The intensity of current Hg vapor exposure was rather moderate as reflected by the levels of mercury in urine (HgU) (mean and 95th percentile: males 52 and 147 micrograms/g creatinine; females 37 and 63 micrograms/g creatinine) and of mercury in blood (mean and 95th percentile: males 1.4 and 3.7 micrograms/dl; females 0.9 and 1.4 microgram/dl). Several symptoms mainly related to the central nervous system (memory disturbances, depressive feelings, fatigue, irritability) were more prevalent in the Hg-exposed subjects. They were, however, not related to exposure parameters. In both male and female Hg-exposed workers no significant disturbances were found in short-term memory (audioverbal), simple reaction time (visual), critical flicker fusion, and color discrimination ability. Only slight renal tubular effects were detected in Hg-exposed males and females, ie, an increased urinary beta-galactosidase activity and an increased urinary excretion of retinol-binding protein. The prevalence of these preclinical renal effects was more related to the current exposure intensity (HgU) than to the duration of exposure and was detected mainly when HgU exceeds 50 micrograms/g creatinine. Changes in hand tremor spectrum recorded with an accelerometer were found in the Hg-exposed males only.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
• OSTI ID: 5720177
• Journal Information: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States) Vol. 7:1; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FLUIDS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
KIDNEYS
MATERIALS
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
MERCURY
METALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
URINE
UROGENITAL SYSTEM DISEASES
VAPORS
WASTES