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

MERCURY 464
5. POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE
boots which were soaked with mercury were taken home, exposing family members. Cases of mine
workers’ homes being contaminated have also been reported, although the authors did not address the impact
of this contamination on the health of the family members (West and Lim 1968). Although prevention of
this kind of employee transport of mercury to homes is preferred, cleaning homes of workers occupationally
exposed to mercury can be effective in reducing exposure for family members (Zirschky 1990).
5.7 POPULATIONS WITH POTENTIALLY HIGH EXPOSURES
In addition to individuals who are occupationally exposed to mercury (Section 5.5), there are several groups
within the general population with potentially high exposures (i.e., higher than background levels) to
metallic mercury and various mercury compounds. Historically, populations that have been exposed to
higher-than-normal background levels of mercury in the air, water, soil, and/or food have included
populations near industrial discharges (e.g., Minamata and Niigata, Japan) and those who inadvertently
consumed methylmercury-contaminated food (e.g., grain in Iraq) (WHO 1990, 1991). People living in
proximity to former mercury production facilities or mines, secondary mercury production (recycling)
facilities, chloralkali facilities, municipal and medical waste incinerators, other mercury-disposal or
recycling facilities, or the 714 current or former NPL hazardous waste sites where mercury has been detected
(HazDat 1998) are at risk of receiving potentially higher-than-normal background levels of exposure.
Populations with potentially high exposure include recreational and subsistence fishers and hunters, Native
American populations who routinely consume larger amounts of locally caught fish than the general
population or who consume marine mammals in their diet. Other populations with potential for higher than
average exposures are individuals with large numbers of dental amalgams, those who use various consumer
products containing mercury (i.e., skin lightening creams and soaps, ethnic remedies, or fingerpaints and
make-up paints containing mercury or mercury compounds), and those living or working in buildings
recently painted with mercury-containing latex paints or buildings where mercury has been intentionally or
unintentionally spilled.
Individuals Living Near Mercury Production, Use, and Disposal Sites. Individuals in the
general population living in the vicinity of former primary production or mining sites or current secondary
production sites, chloralkali plants, pulp and paper mills, coal-fired power plants, facilities where mercury is
released (e.g., municipal waste or medical waste incinerators or other waste disposal facilities), or hazardous