Public health consequences of mercury spills: Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance system, 1993-1998.

Zeitz, Perri; Orr, Maureen F.; Kaye, Wendy

doi:10.1289/ehp.02110129

Cited by 42 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…14 Because mercury can easily become trapped in porous surfaces such as plaster or stucco interiors, carpeting, or cracks between tile or wood floors, it may persist in an indoor environment for several years. 1,15 The greatest human exposure hazard associated with elemental mercury is its vapor. Mercury vapor is heavier than air, and its concentration tends to remain high near its source.…”

Section: Cultural Use Of Mercury and Botanicasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure in Young Children Living in New York City

et al. 2007

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Residential exposure to vapor from current or previous cultural use of mercury could harm children living in rental (apartment) homes. That concern prompted the following agencies to conduct a study to assess pediatric mercury exposure in New York City communities by measuring urine mercury levels: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (NYCDOHMH) Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy, New York State Department of Health/Center for Environmental Health (NYSDOHCEH), Wadsworth Center's Biomonitoring Program/Trace Elements Laboratory (WC-TEL), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A previous study indicated that people could obtain mercury for ritualistic use from botanicas located in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Working closely with local community partners, we concentrated our recruiting efforts through health clinics located in potentially affected neighborhoods. We developed posters to advertise the study, conducted active outreach through local partners, and, as compensation for participation in the study, we offered a food gift certificate redeemable at a local grocer. We collected 460 urine specimens and analyzed them for total mercury. Overall, geometric mean urine total mercury was 0.31 microg mercury/l urine. One sample was 24 microg mercury/l urine, which exceeded the (20 microg mercury/l urine) NYSDOH Heavy Metal Registry reporting threshold for urine mercury exposure. Geometric mean urine mercury levels were uniformly low and did not differ by neighborhood or with any clinical significance by children's ethnicity. Few parents reported the presence of mercury at home, in a charm, or other item (e.g., skin-lightening creams and soaps), and we found no association between these potential sources of exposure and a child's urinary mercury levels. All pediatric mercury levels measured in this study were well below a level considered to be of medical concern. This study found neither self-reported nor measured evidence of significant mercury use or exposure among participating children. Because some participants were aware of the possibility that they could acquire and use mercury for cultural or ritualistic purposes, community education about the health hazards of mercury should continue.

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Section: Cultural Use Of Mercury and Botanicasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure in Young Children Living in New York City

et al. 2007

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“…However, the elemental (metallic) form of mercury can also affect the central nervous system and, like organic mercury, may be a concern for developmental effects in children (ATSDR 1999). Although dental amalgams are the primary source of elemental mercury exposure in the general population, releases of this metal from consumer products and devices (e.g., thermometers, barometers, thermostats, electrical switches, fluorescent lights, gas pressure regulators, batteries, and use of older latex paint) can also contribute to public exposures (Agocs et al 1990;Aronow et al 1990;ATSDR 1999ATSDR , 2000Zeitz et al 2002).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of mercury in urine as an indicator of exposure to low levels of mercury vapor.

Tsuji

Williams

Edwards

et al. 2003

Environ Health Perspect

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We conducted a pooled analysis to investigate the relationship between exposure to elemental mercury in air and resulting urinary mercury levels, specifically at lower air levels relevant for environmental exposures and public health goals (i.e., < 50 microg/m3 down to 1.0 microg/m3). Ten studies reporting paired air and urine mercury data (149 samples total) met criteria for data quality and sufficiency. The log-transformed data set showed a strong correlation between mercury in air and in urine (r = 0.774), although the relationship was best fit by a series of parallel lines with different intercepts for each study R2 = 0.807). Predicted ratios of air to urine mercury levels at 50 microg/m3 air concentration ranged from 1:1 to 1:3, based on the regression line for the studies. Toward the lower end of the data set (i.e., 10 microg/m3), predicted urinary mercury levels encompassed two distinct ranges: values on the order of 20 microg/L and 30-60 microg/L. Extrapolation to 1 microg/m3 resulted in predicted urinary levels of 4-5 and 6-13 microg/L. Higher predicted levels were associated with use of static area air samplers by some studies rather than more accurate personal air samplers. Urinary mercury predictions based primarily on personal air samplers at 1 and 10 microg/m3 are consistent with reported mean (4 microg/L) and upper-bound (20 microg/L) background levels, respectively. Thus, although mercury levels in air and urine are correlated below 50 microg/m3, the impact of airborne mercury levels below 10 microg/m3 is likely to be indistinguishable from background urinary mercury levels.

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“…Thus, environmental release of elemental mercury that results in human exposure can occur in many different locations [8]. Sarıkaya et al reported a case of acute elemental mercury poisoning that they followed presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea and high fever.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute mercury poisoning presenting as fever of unknown origin in an adult woman: a case report

et al. 2014

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IntroductionMercury intoxication may present in a wide range of clinical forms from a simple disease to fatal poisoning. This article presents a case of acute mercury poisoning, a rare condition that presents challenges for diagnosis with fever of unknown origin.Case presentationA 52-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted to the hospital with high fever, sore throat, a rash over her entire body, itching, nausea, and extensive muscle pain. She had cervical, bilateral axillary and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. We learned that her son and husband had similar symptoms. After excluding infectious pathologies, autoimmune diseases and malignancy were investigated. Multiple organs of our patient were involved and her fever persisted at the fourth week of admission. A repeat medical history elicited that her son had brought mercury home from school and put it on the hot stove, and the family had been exposed to the fumes for a long period of time. Our patient’s serum and urine mercury levels were high. She was diagnosed with mercury poisoning and treated accordingly.ConclusionsMercury vapor is a colourless and odorless substance. Therefore, patients with various unexplained symptoms and clinical conditions should be questioned about possible exposure to mercury.

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Public health consequences of mercury spills: Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance system, 1993-1998.

Cited by 42 publications

References 2 publications

Mercury Exposure in Young Children Living in New York City

Mercury Exposure in Young Children Living in New York City

Evaluation of mercury in urine as an indicator of exposure to low levels of mercury vapor.

Acute mercury poisoning presenting as fever of unknown origin in an adult woman: a case report

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