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MERCURY
2.2.1.1 Death
2. HEALTH EFFECTS
Metallic Mercury. Several studies have reported death in humans following accidental acute-duration
exposure to high, but unspecified, concentrations of metallic mercury vapor (Campbell 1948; Kanluen and
Gottlieb 1991; Matthes et al. 1958; Rowens et al. 1991; Soni et al. 1992; Taueg et al. 1992; Teng and
Brennan 1959; Tennant et al. 1961). Death in all cases was attributed to respiratory failure. In all of these
cases, high levels of mercury vapors were generated by volatilizing metallic mercury by heating.
Available animal data on death from exposure to metallic mercury vapors were also limited to acuteduration
exposures (Ashe et al. 1953; Christensen et al. 1937; Livardjani et al. 1991b). Rats, guinea pigs,
and mice died from severe pulmonary edema following a 24–48-hour exposure to an unspecified
concentration of metallic mercury vapor resulting from spillage of mercury droplets on the floor of a static
exposure chamber (Christensen et al. 1937). Exposure of rats to 27 mg/m 3 of elemental mercury vapors for
2 hours, followed by observation for 15 days, resulted in substantial mortality (20 of 32 rats died prior to
their scheduled sacrifice) (Livardjani et al. 1991b). Rabbits appeared to be less sensitive, with death
occurring in 1 of 2 rabbits exposed to 28.8 mg/m3 metallic mercury for 30 hours and no deaths in rabbits
exposed to the same concentration for 20 hours or less (Ashe et al. 1953).
All reliable LOAEL values for death following exposure to inorganic mercury in each species and duration
category are recorded in Table 2-1 and plotted in Figure 2-1.
Organic Mercury. Case studies of occupational exposure to alkyl mercury compounds have reported
deaths in humans following inhalation exposure to organic mercury vapors. The cause of death was not
reported, but most subjects died after developing profound neurotoxicity (Hill 1943; Hook et al. 1954).
Exposure to diethylmercury vapor (estimated exposure level = 1–1.1 mg/m 3 ) for 4–5 months resulted in the
death of 2 women (Hill 1943). The cause of death was not reported; however, the symptoms experienced
by the women were consistent with mercury toxicity, and autopsies revealed pronounced gastrointestinal
disorder. It is unclear whether the gastrointestinal effects were directly attributable to the mercury
exposure. A 41-year-old man with 3–4 years of exposure to alkyl mercury compounds used in seed
dressing died within approximately 3 months after cleaning up a spill of liquid containing alkyl mercury
(Hook et al. 1954). A 57-year-old male employed for 5 years treating lumber with an alkyl mercury
preparation (unspecified) died soon after developing neurological toxicity (Lundgren and Swensson 1949).
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