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

MERCURY 461
5. POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE
metallic mercury are found in a container, make sure the container is airtight and call the local health
department for disposal instructions. If the container of mercury is open without a lid, a piece of plastic
wrap can be used to seal the container. If the larger amount is spilled, leave the area immediately and
contact the local health department or fire department. Members of the general public should seek
professional guidance on proper disposal procedures of mercury (ATSDR 1997).
Metallic mercury vapors are very toxic and are virtually odorless. Inhalation of mercury-laden dust, vapor,
or mist should be avoided. Metallic mercury not should not come in contact with eyes, skin, or clothing. If
children are exposed directly to metallic mercury, the contaminated body area should be thoroughly washed,
and contaminated clothing should be removed and disposed of in a sealed plastic bag (ATSDR 1997).
ATSDR and EPA recommend very strongly against the use of any uncontained metallic (liquid) mercury in
homes, automobiles, day care centers, schools, offices, and other public buildings. If a child has metallic
mercury on his or her clothing, skin, or hair, the fire department should be advised and the child should be
properly decontaminated (ATSDR 1997).
Some Chinese herbal remedies for stomach disorders contain mercury (probably as mercury sulfide). If
these herbal remedies are made into teas and are given to children, they increase the risk of harmful effects
(Espinoza et al. 1995, 1996). Some remedies are in the form of herbal balls, which are aromatic, malleable,
earth-toned, roughly spherical, hand-rolled mixtures of primarily herbs and honey. These herbal balls are
used as a self-medication for a wide variety of conditions, including fever, rheumatism, apoplexy, and
cataracts. Herbal balls similar to those analyzed by Espinoza et al. (1995, 1996) are readily available in
specialty markets throughout the United States. Ingesting two herbal balls (the recommended adult dose per
day) could theoretically provide a dose of up to 1,200 mg mercury; even if the mercury is in the form of
mercuric sulfide, a relatively less bioavailable form, there is an increased risk of mercury entering the body.
If a pregnant woman or nursing mother uses mercury-containing herbal remedies, she may also pass the
mercury to her unborn child or nursing infant via breast milk. Herbal remedies that contain mercury should
be stored so that children can not reach them to prevent accidental poisoning.
Consumers should check the ingredients of any prescription or non-prescription medicine. Hoet and Lison
(1997) recently reported an unusual non-occupational source of mercury exposure in a woman who used
prescription nasal drops over a long period of time that contained 300 mg/L (ppm) borate phenylmercury.
Prescription medicines that contain mercury should be stored out of children’s reach to avoid accidental
poisoning.