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

MERCURY 459
5. POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE
plain of East Fork Poplar Creek in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, revealed the presence of submicron, crystalline
mercuric sulfide (HgS) in the form of metacinnabar. The HgS formed in place after the deposition and burial
of mercury-contaminated soils. The formation of HgS is significant for remediation efforts at the site
because the toxicity, leachability, and volatility of mercury in soils are dependent on the solid phase
speciation. Because local hydrogeochemical conditions are not unique, the formation of HgS at this site has
implications to other environments and contaminated sites as well.
Children may be exposed to mercury vapors when they play with metallic mercury. Metallic mercury is a
heavy, shiny, silver liquid and when spilled, forms little balls or beads which fascinate children. Children
come in contact with metallic mercury when they trespass in abandoned warehouses, closed factories, or
hazardous waste sites (ATSDR 1997; George et al. 1996). Children also have taken metallic mercury from
school chemistry and physics laboratories and abandoned warehouses (ATSDR 1997). Broken
thermometers and other mercury-containing instruments or equipment (fluorescent light bulbs, barometers,
blood pressure measurement equipment, and light switches) used in the home and in some children’s
sneakers that light up are other sources of metallic mercury. Muhlendahl (1990) reported a case of chronic
mercury intoxication in three children who were exposed to vapors from a broken thermometer. The
maximum urinary concentrations reported by this author (8 months after the broken thermometer incident)
were 250.5 µg/L for a 33-month-old girl, 266.3 µg/L for a 20-month-old girl, and 137.4 ppm for the 7-yearold
brother 2 days after each patient received chelation therapy with DMPS (2,3-dimercaptopropan-1sulphonate).
Sometimes children find containers of metallic mercury which were disposed of improperly
(ATSDR 1997), or adults intentionally or unintentionally bring home metallic mercury from work
(Ehrenberg et al. 1991; Wendroff 1990). Metallic mercury evaporates to a greater extent as the air
temperature increases; when it is not stored in a closed container, children may be exposed to mercury
vapors (ATSDR 1997; Wendroff 1991).
Metallic mercury is traditionally used in some religious rituals or remedies, including religions such as
Santeria (a Cuban-based religion that worships both African deities and Catholic saints), voodoo (a Haitianbased
set of beliefs and secret rites), Palo Mayombe (a secret form of ancestor worship practiced mainly in
the Caribbean), or Espiritismo (a spiritual belief system native to Puerto Rico) (Wendroff 1990). If these
rituals or spiritual remedies containing mercury are used in the home, children may be exposed and the house
may be contaminated with mercury (ATSDR 1997; Johnson [in press]; Wendroff 1990, 1991; Zayas and
Ozuah 1996). Metallic mercury is sold under the name "azogue" (pronounced ah-SEW-gay) in stores
(sometimes called botanicas) which specialize in religious items and ethnic remedies (Johnson [in press];