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Objective@#To investigate the health status of occupational mercury workers and reveal the effects of mercury exposure on the cardiovascular system.@*Methods@#In June 2019, a total of 2651 mercury workers participated in the occupational health examination between 2016-2018 from a thermometer manufacturing plant and a fluorescent lamp manufacturing plant were included in this study. Then, they were divided into a high-level mercury exposure group (425 workers whose urine mercury concentration >35 μg/g creatinine) and a low-mercury mercury exposure group (2226 workers whose urinary mercury concentration <35 μg/g creatinine) . Mercury concentration in the workplace was also detected. Finally, the results of electrocardiogram (ECG) , blood routine, blood biochemistry and other physical examinations were analyzed. The measurement data of age and exposure years were analyzed by test. Urinary mercury and blood parameters were analyzed by Mann-Whitney nonparametric test. Chi-square test was used for the analyses of gender, ECG abnormality rate and other categorical data.@*Results@#The 8-hour weighted average allowable concentration (CTWA) of mercury in the workplace of high-exposure group was 0.002 2-0.152 mg/m3. The abnormal rate of ECG in the high-exposed group (29.6%) was higher than that in the low-exposure group (10.1%) in 2018 (P<0.01) . Compared with the low-exposure group, the WBC of the high-exposure group from 2016 to 2018 was increased, with statistically significance (P<0.05) ; the RBC of the high-exposure group in 2016 and 2017 was decreased, with statistically significance (P<0.01) ; the total bilirubin concentration in the high-exposure group was decreased from 2016 to 2018, with statistically significance (P<0.05) .@*Conclusion@#Long-term exposure to high concentration of mercury in the workplace may influence cardiovascular system. Therefore, engineering protection and individual protection should be implemented well.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate( DMPS) in the treatment of patients with increased urinary mercury. METHODS: By random sampling method,68 patients with elevated urinary mercury were chosen as study subjects. Among them,61 cases were observation subjects working with mercury and 7 cases were chronic occupational mild mercury poisoning. DMPS was used to eliminate mercury by intramuscular injection. The changes of urinary mercury level were observed before and after treatment,and the curative effect was analyzed. RESULTS: The median( the 25 th and 75 th percentiles) of natural voiding urinary mercury was 36. 6( 28. 4,55. 6) μmol / mol creatinine and 24 hours total urine mercury amount was 1 074. 7( 608. 0,1 646. 3) μg / d in the first course of treatment.After 1 to 8 courses of mercury expulsion,the 24 hours total urine mercury amount in 68 patients were lower than the normal reference level( 45. 0 μg / d). The median( the 25 th and 75 th percentiles) of one-time morning urinary mercury level before hospital discharge was 2. 7( 1. 8,4. 0) μmol / mol creatinin,which was lower than the level of natural voiding urinary mercury( P < 0. 05). The first and second course of treatment resulted in the highest decline in urinary mercury,followed by a gradually decreased in urinary mercury in later courses. The number of treatment courses in observation subjects working with mercury was less than that in patients with chronic mild mercury poisoning [( 4. 0 ± 1. 3) vs( 5. 6 ±1. 1) times,P < 0. 05]. There was a positive correlation between the number of treatment courses and the level of natural voiding urinary mercury or 24 hours total urine mercury amount in the first course of treatment( P < 0. 01). The number of courses of mercury expulsion was not related to gender,length of service and age( P > 0. 05). One patient had dizziness and pale after intramuscular injection of DMPS,the symptom was disappeared with symptomatic treatment; 68 patients after treatment have no other adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: Using DMPS as mercury displacement treatment was effective and relatively safe. The change of urinary mercury after DMPS treatment can be used as a basis for establishing clinical standard for patients with increased urinary mercury.
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Objective To investigate the mercury exposure level in cord blood of neonatal in Zhoushan Islands and to analyze the related factors,in order to provide scientific basis for relevant prevention and control measures.Methods From June 201 2 to July 201 3,peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood samples were collected in local women who delivered their babies in Zhoushan Islands.Questionnaire survey and mercury exposure test were performed.Results 3 052 maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood samples were tested,and the mean,median,P25 and P75 of the maternal blood mercury were 5.33 ±3.69,4.63,2.8 and 8.2 μg/kg respectively.And the mean,median,P25 and P75 of the cord blood mercury were 7.72 ±4.87,7.31 ,4.7 and 1 1 .2 μg/kg.Single factor analysis showed that the neonatal umbilical cord blood mercury levels were associated the intake of pan -fried mackerel during pregnancy (OR =1 .79,P <0.01 ).No association was found with the sex of newborn,the intake of iron,calcium,and vitamin during pregnancy,the number of mending tooth,the use of whitening cosmetics,the intake of fish and seafood,father's smoking,the average family income and residence time.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the neonatal umbilical cord blood mercury levels were associated the intake of pan -fried mackerel during pregnancy (OR =1 .96,P <0.01 ).Conclusion Mercury levels in cord blood in Zhoushan area are detected at a high level;the intake of pan -fried mackerel could be one of the major sources of mercury accumulation in neonates.There is an association between the mercury levels of maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The number of analyzed outcome variables is important in the statistical analysis and interpretation of research findings. This study investigated published papers in the field of environmental health studies. We aimed to examine whether differences in the number of reported outcome variables exist between papers with non-significant findings compared to those with significant findings. Articles on the maternal exposure to mercury and child development were used as examples.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Articles published between 1995 and 2013 focusing on the relationships between maternal exposure to mercury and child development were collected from Medline and Scopus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 87 extracted papers, 73 used statistical significance testing and 38 (43.7%) of these reported 'non-significant' (P>0.05) findings. The median number of child development outcome variables in papers reporting 'significant' (n=35) and 'non-significant' (n=38) results was 4 versus 7, respectively (Mann-Whitney test P-value=0.014). An elevated number of outcome variables was especially found in papers reporting non-significant associations between maternal mercury and outcomes when mercury was the only analyzed exposure variable.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Authors often report analyzed health outcome variables based on their P-values rather than on stated primary research questions. Such a practice probably skews the research evidence.</p>
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Child , Female , Humans , Bias , Child Development , Physiology , Environmental Exposure , Environmental Health , Maternal Exposure , Mercury , Toxicity , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Reference Standards , Periodicals as Topic , Reference StandardsABSTRACT
Study Background: Dental amalgam is still widely used as a restorative material in developing countries due to its low cost and ease of manipulation. The health risks associated with the components of this restorative material has always been a matter of concern. Our study was designed to address this question regarding dental amalgam. Objective: To study sister chromatid exchange (SCE) as an indicator of systemic genotoxicity, due to the exposure from the components of amalgam restorations during its placement and chronic use. Materials and Methods: Systemic genotoxicity in subjects exposed to amalgam during its placement (Group II; n = 5) and subjects with chronic exposure to amalgam (Group III; n = 5) were compared with controls (Group I; n = 5) by SCE assay in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes. Result: Subjects exposed to amalgam during its placement and subjects having chronic exposure to amalgam showed an increase in the frequency of SCE, but the change was not statistically significant (P = 0.84, P = 0.123 respectively). Conclusion: Systemic genotoxicity was not observed due to the components of amalgam restorations released during its placement and chronic use. The findings of this study can be considered as preliminary information on the systemic toxicity due to the components of amalgam restorations.
Subject(s)
Dental Amalgam/chemistry , Dental Amalgam/toxicity , Mercury/toxicity , Sister Chromatid ExchangeABSTRACT
Mercury is one of the ubiquitous environmental neurotoxins which causes adverse effects on the development of children's neural system.Considering the severe neurotoxicity of mercury,finding and minimizing the sources of mercury exposure is essential for children's health.Amongst the mercury compounds,the toxicity of organic mercury is the most severe.Methyl mercury (MeHg) is the most detrimental and represents a major source of human exposure of mercury.Recent studies on molecular mechanisms of MeHg neurotoxicity points out that MeHg mainly mediates its toxic effects through the impairment of intraceilular calcium homeostasis,alteration of glutamate homeostasis,and oxidative stress.These concepts provide the biochemical interpreting of MeHg neurotoxicity.This review provides the current information on mercury,including environmental sources,neurotoxicity,and molecular mechanisms of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity.It will be helpful to find some effective ways of interfering children mercury exposure.
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Goal: To make mercury exposure assessment among private gold miners, who live in Jargalant and Bornuur soums ofTuv province.Objectives:1. To collect human bio-samples, including hair, urine and blood, then determine mercury concentrations.2. To asess the mercury exposure situation for those of two soum civilizationsMaterials and MethodsThe MoH-lead investigations were undertaken in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health from UMIT University in Hall, Austria as well as national Mongolian partners from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Public Health Institute , the and other institutions. The Mongolian WHO office supported the mission. The urine samples were analyzed by the Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Munich, (LMU) Germany and the National Institute for Minamata Disease, Japan. The blood samples were analyzed by the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, HPA, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, UK through the Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK.Results and Conclusions• The median level of mercury in urine for the control area is 0.10 μg/l, compared to 2.88 μg/l for the group exposed by living in the area and 4.37 μg/l for the group working with mercury. The blood results do differ significantly as well (median 0.24 μg/l for control group, median 0.33 μg/l for the group living in an exposed area, median 0.55 μg/l for the group working with mercury).• The hair results do differ significantly as well (median 0.11/0.08 (root/tip) μg/l for control group, median 0.0.25/0.19 (root/tip) μg/l for the group living in an exposed area, median 0.31/0.26 (root/tip) μg/l for the group working with mercury).• Laboratory tests performed on urine, blood and hair samples collected in Bornuur and Jargalant Soum indicate that the population is very likely to have been recently exposed to mercury. The participants from Bornuur soum and Jargalant soum show results above HBM I to a high percentage and even above HBM II, indicating a much higher exposure to mercury compared to Khushaat soum.
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We measured visual performance in achromatic and chromatic spatial tasks of mercury-exposed subjects and compared the results with norms obtained from healthy individuals of similar age. Data were obtained for a group of 28 mercury-exposed subjects, comprising 20 Amazonian gold miners, 2 inhabitants of Amazonian riverside communities, and 6 laboratory technicians, who asked for medical care. Statistical norms were generated by testing healthy control subjects divided into three age groups. The performance of a substantial proportion of the mercury-exposed subjects was below the norms in all of these tasks. Eleven of 20 subjects (55 percent) performed below the norms in the achromatic contrast sensitivity task. The mercury-exposed subjects also had lower red-green contrast sensitivity deficits at all tested spatial frequencies (9/11 subjects; 81 percent). Three gold miners and 1 riverine (4/19 subjects, 21 percent) performed worse than normal subjects making more mistakes in the color arrangement test. Five of 10 subjects tested (50 percent), comprising 2 gold miners, 2 technicians, and 1 riverine, performed worse than normal in the color discrimination test, having areas of one or more MacAdam ellipse larger than normal subjects and high color discrimination thresholds at least in one color locus. These data indicate that psychophysical assessment can be used to quantify the degree of visual impairment of mercury-exposed subjects. They also suggest that some spatial tests such as the measurement of red-green chromatic contrast are sufficiently sensitive to detect visual dysfunction caused by mercury toxicity.