Organic mercury exposure from fungicide-contaminated eggs

During a period of 50 to 55 days from early January to March 2, 1979, 14 members of an extended family in Yakima, Washington, ate eggs contaminated with organic mercury. Seed grain which had been treated with a mercurial fungicide and fed to chickens in a home flock was the source of exposure. Blood mercury levels in family members ranged from 0.9 to 20.2 ppb and correlated positively with average daily egg consumption (r = 0.92). There were no symptoms or physical signs of organic mercury intoxication. Prompt confiscation of the contaminated grain, eggs, and chicken flock terminated the exposure and may have prevented the development of serious illness.