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Related Experiment Videos

Mercury exposure from interior latex paint.

M M Agocs1, R A Etzel, R G Parrish

  • 1Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30306.

The New England Journal of Medicine
|October 18, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Exposure to mercury from paint fumes can cause poisoning. A study found elevated mercury levels in homes and individuals exposed to a specific paint brand, indicating a potential health hazard.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Phenylmercuric acetate was commonly used as a preservative in interior latex paints.
  • A case of acrodynia (mercury poisoning) in a child was linked to paint fumes from a brand exceeding recommended mercury limits.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had a recommended limit of 1.5 mmol/L for mercury in paint.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between using a specific paint brand containing phenylmercuric acetate and elevated mercury levels.
  • To assess indoor-air and urinary mercury concentrations in homes recently painted with the suspect brand.

Main Methods:

  • A study was conducted involving 74 individuals from 19 homes with recently painted interiors using the suspect brand (exposed group).

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  • A control group of 28 individuals from 10 homes not painted with mercury-containing paint was also included.
  • Paint, air, and urinary mercury concentrations were measured and compared between the exposed and unexposed groups.

    • Main Results:

    • Paint samples from exposed homes had a median mercury concentration of 3.8 mmol/L, significantly higher than the EPA limit.
    • Indoor-air samples from exposed homes showed a median mercury content of 10.0 nmol/m³.
    • Exposed individuals had significantly higher median urinary mercury concentrations (4.7 nmol/mmol creatinine) compared to unexposed individuals (1.1 nmol/mmol creatinine).

    Conclusions:

    • The use of paint containing mercury at concentrations approximately 2.5 times the EPA's recommended limit resulted in potentially hazardous mercury exposure.
    • Elevated indoor-air and urinary mercury levels were confirmed in individuals exposed to the mercury-containing paint.
    • The findings highlight the health risks associated with mercury-based paint preservatives and the importance of adhering to regulatory limits.