| Agent Name |
Mercury, inorganic compounds |
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| Formula |
Varies |
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| Major Category |
Metals |
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| Synonyms |
Water-soluble mercury compounds: chlorides, nitrates, chlorates, cyanide, fluorides, and bromides; Water-insoluble compounds: oxides and sulfides. [ACGIH] |
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| Category |
Metals, inorganic compounds |
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| Sources/Uses |
A by-product of gold and bauxite mining; Used in pigments, refining, lubrication oils, catalysts, and in water-based paints as a preservative and mildewcide; [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Ingestion (non-occupational) is the usual route of exposure. Inorganic mercury poisoning causes acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis followed by acute tubular necrosis. In cases of acute poisoning, whole blood mercury levels usually exceed 50 ug/dL. [Sullivan, p. 872] Chronic exposure to inorganic mercury may produce proteinuria as evidence of kidney injury. [LaDou, p. 427] Inorganic and elemental mercury can cause peripheral neuropathy. [LaDou, p. 380] Ammoniated mercury is a moderate skin sensitizer, and mercuric chloride is a strong sensitizer. Mercury can produce slight hepatic injury in experimental animals. [Zimmerman, p. 419] Data is limited on the fetal effects of mercury in forms other than methyl mercury. Experimental animals exposed to high doses of mercury vapor and salts have increased developmental abnormalities. [ATSDR Case Studies #17] See "Mercury, alkyl compounds," "Mercury, aryl compounds," and "Mercury, elemental." |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
Total inorganic Hg in urine = 35 ug/g creatinine; sample pre-shift; Total inorganic Hg in blood = 15 ug/L; sample at end of shift at end of workweek; |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
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| Bioaccumulates |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.02 mg/m3, as Hg |
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| PEL (OSHA) | Ceiling(OSHA)=0.1 mg/m3, as Hg |
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| MAK |
0.1 mg/m3, as Hg |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
10 mg/m3 |
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| Explanatory Notes |
OSHA ceiling = 0.1 mg/m3; Exposure values are for "Mercury, inorganic compounds, as Hg." |
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| Half Life |
Metallic and inorganic in whole body: 1-2 months; blood: 2 days to 1 month; methylmercury in blood: 1 month; methylmercury in whole body: 44-79 days; [TDR, p. 813] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Mercury |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
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| Neurotoxin |
Sensorimotor Neuropathy |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Not Classifiable |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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