[Effects of mercury exposure on reproduction in female workers]

Reproductive hazards in 704 female workers exposed to low-level metallic mercury and 583 controls were investigated. Females exposed to low-level mercury for a long term mainly manifested dysmenorrhoea, and the incidence of dysmenorrhoea increased with exposure dose, suggesting a dose-response relationship. At a level over 0.06 mg/m3 of mercury, incidence of hypomenorrhea significantly increased, and in general, at a level below 0.06 mg/m3, menstrual cycles, quantity and duration of menstrual flow did not change significantly. Differences in incidences of preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, fetal death, still birth, and complications of pregnancy between the group exposed to 0.06-0.1 mg/m3 of mercury and the control group did not reach a significant level. Incidences of birth defect, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal death, infant infection, low birth weight, retardation on physical and mental development in offsprings of the exposed females were not significantly higher than in those of controls.