Mercury exposure and effects at a thermometer factory

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Workers in thermometer factories face potential exposure to metallic mercury vapor.
• Inadequate engineering and hygienic controls can exacerbate occupational mercury exposure risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess mercury levels in biological samples (air, urine, blood, hair) of workers in a thermometer factory.
• To correlate environmental mercury exposure with biological monitoring data and observed health symptoms.
• To evaluate the utility of hair analysis for tracking mercury absorption patterns.

Main Methods:

• Air, urine, blood, and hair samples were collected from 16 workers (14 women, 2 men) in a thermometer factory.
• Mercury concentrations were measured using analytical techniques.
• Segmental hair analysis was performed to assess historical exposure patterns.
• Correlation coefficients were calculated between air mercury levels and biological sample concentrations.

Main Results:

• Mean mercury levels in urine, blood, and hair increased significantly with higher ambient air mercury concentrations (50-200 µg/m³).
• Strong positive correlations were found between air mercury levels and mercury concentrations in urine (r=0.92) and blood (r=0.79).
• Symptoms such as headache, irritability, hair loss, and joint pain were frequently reported by exposed workers.

Conclusions:

• Occupational exposure to mercury vapor in thermometer factories can lead to significant absorption and adverse health effects.
• Urine and blood mercury levels are reliable indicators of recent exposure, while hair analysis provides a historical perspective.
• Reconsideration of current exposure/absorption thresholds may be warranted based on observed mercury levels (150-770 nmol/l).