PEDIATRICS Vol. 79 No. 6 June 1987, pp. 935-938
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Elemental Mercury Exposure Among Children of Thermometer Plant Workers

Paul J. Hudson MD1, Richard L. Vogt MD1, Jack Brondum DVM1, Linden Witherell PE1, Gary Myers MD1, and Daniel C. Paschal PhD1

1 From the Division of Epidemiology, Vermont State Department of Health, Burlington; Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, and Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta; and University of Alabama, Birmingham

Because evidence of mercury exposure was found among workers of a mercury thermometer-manufacturing plant in March 1984, the Vermont Department of Health studied the workers' children for both exposure to mercury and evidence of mercury toxicity. The median urine mercury level of 23 workers' children was 25 µg/L. This was significantly higher than the level (5 µg/L) among 39 children randomly selected from nonworkers' households in the same community (P < .001). Mercury-in-air levels measured in workers' homes were higher than those measured in control homes. A significant correlation was found between the urine mercury levels of the workers' children and the urine mercury levels of their working parents. No child had frank mercury toxicity. No evidence of neurologic toxicity among exposed children was discovered by a pediatric neurologist who examined these and unexposed children without knowledge of their exposure status. This is the first report demonstrating mercury exposure in children of mercury workers. Although toxic effects of mercury were not demonstrated at these levels of exposure, children of mercury workers are at risk for mercury exposure and potential mercury toxicity.

Key Words: elemental mercury exposure • occupational toxin exposure • thermometer

Submitted on February 10, 1986
Accepted on August 1, 1986




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