revised final - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ...

MERCURY 157
2. HEALTH EFFECTS
ulceration in the intestinal mucosa, vomiting, and diarrhea occurred in a woman who inserted a mercuric
chloride tablet into her vagina (Millar 1916).
No studies were located regarding gastrointestinal effects in animals following dermal exposure to
inorganic mercury.
Organic Mercury. No studies were located regarding gastrointestinal effects in humans or animals after
dermal exposure to organic mercury.
Renal Effects
Inorganic Mercury. Congested medulla; pale and swollen cortex; and extensive necrosis, degeneration,
and calcification of tubular epithelium were reported in the kidneys of a 27-year-old woman after inserting
an 8.75-g tablet of mercuric chloride (93 mg Hg/kg assuming 70-kg weight) into her vagina (Millar 1916).
Decreased renal output and renal failure were reported in a man who had been receiving daily applications
for 2 months of a Chinese medicine containing mercurous chloride (Kang-Yum and Oransky 1992). A
woman who used a depigmenting cream containing mercuric ammonium chloride for approximately
18 years developed an impaired renal function (Dyall-Smith and Scurry 1990). Similarly, a man who used
an ointment containing ammoniated mercury for psoriasis for more than 10 years developed a nephrotic
syndrome with severe edema (Williams and Bridge 1958). A study of young African women who used skin
lightening creams containing ammoniated mercuric chloride for 1–36 months (average, 13 months) showed
a nephrotic syndrome among a large portion of the women (Barr et al. 1972). The syndrome was
characterized by elevated urinary protein, edema, decreased serum albumin, alpha-1-globulin, betaglobulin,
and gamma globulin and increased alpha-2-globulin. Remission was observed in 77% of those
who discontinued use of the creams.
No studies were located regarding renal effects in animals after dermal exposure to inorganic mercury.
Organic Mercury. No studies were located regarding renal effects in humans or animals after dermal
exposure to organic mercury.