Intoxicación ocupacional por mercurio y la neurotoxicidad / Occupational intoxication by mercury and neurotoxicity

RESUMEN

Introducción: El mercurio es un metal pesado que puede encontrarse en la naturaleza en 3 formas primarias elemental, orgánico e inorgánico. Metodología: Se describe el caso de un varón de 30 años, profesión calderero, que formo parte de unos de los equipos encargados de sustituir los tubos de acero-carbono del intercambiador por donde circulan gases sulfurosos con restos de mercurio. Los síntomas iniciales fueron diarreas e inflamación de encías, presentando inicialmente una concentración de Hg en orina 939 mcg/L(VN≤30mcg/L), no recibiendo tratamiento hasta después de 6 meses con DMPS en dos oportunidades viendo una reducción de valores urinarios de 1830,47 a 7,38mcg/L. Como clínica, tuvo un eretismo mercurial severo, un trastorno visual complejo y un síndrome diarreico por neuropatía autonómica. Conclusión:Este trabajo pretende advertir sobre las consecuencias de la exposición prolongada a mercurio elemental, especialmente para el sistema nervioso central, así como el diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento oportuno (AU)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Mercury is a heavy metal that can be found in nature in 3 primary forms elemental; organic and inorganic. Intoxication of occupational origin is widely identified as occupational disease. Methodology: The case of a 30-year-old man, a boilermaker (welder assembler), is described as one of the teams responsible for replacing the carbon steel tubes of the exchanger where sulfur gases with mercury traces circulate. The initial symptoms were diarrhea with mucus and blood and inflammation of the gums, initially presenting a blood Hg concentration of 475.9mcg / L (VN = <10mcg / L) and a concentration of Hg in urine 939mcg / L (VN = <30mcg / L), not receiving treatment until after 6 months with DMPS on two occasions seeing a reduction of urinary values from 1830.47 to 7.38mcg / L. As a clinical result, he had severe mercurial erythemia, a secondary visual complex disorder, and a secondary autonomic neuropathic diarrheal syndrome. Consequently, this fact at the beginning was declared as an occupational accident, however, due to its evolution the INSS, a year later, gave the declaration of professional illness caused by mercury, thus was also given the absolute permanent disability for any profession or trade. Conclusion: The present paper aims to warn about the consequences of prolonged exposure to elemental mercury especially for the central nervous system, as well as early diagnosis and timely treatment. On the other hand, note the importance of adopting an adequate and effective preventive system to protect the health of workers exposed to mercury (AU)