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

MERCURY
2. HEALTH EFFECTS
effects of the phenylmercuric acetate or secondary to the severe neurotoxicity also seen in this subject. A
case study reported that no respiratory effects were observed in four men inhaling unspecified
concentrations of methylmercury for several months (Hunter et al. 1940). Both of these studies are limited
because exposure levels were unknown.
No studies were located regarding respiratory effects in animals after inhalation exposure to organic
mercury.
Cardiovascular Effects
Metallic Mercury. Increases in heart rate and blood pressure have been reported following inhalation
exposure to metallic mercury in humans. Acute inhalation exposure to high concentrations of metallic
mercury vapor generated by heating metallic mercury resulted in increased blood pressure (Haddad and
Sternberg 1963; Hallee 1969; Snodgrass et al. 1981) and heart rate/palpitations (Bluhm et al. 1992a;
Haddad and Sternberg 1963; Hallee 1969; Jaffe et al. 1983; Snodgrass et al. 1981; Soni et al. 1992; Teng
and Brennan 1959). In one of these cases, the increase in heart rate was characterized as a sinus tachycardia
(Soni et al. 1992). Exposures of longer durations due to spills or occupational exposures have also been
reported to result in increased blood pressure (Fagala and Wigg 1992; Foulds et al. 1987; Friberg et al.
1953; Karpathios et al. 1991; Taueg et al. 1992) and increased heart rate (Fagala and Wigg 1992; Foulds et
al. 1987). A single case report was located regarding cardiovascular effects resulting from inhalation of
mercury vapors released from a paint that contained a high level of phenylmercuric acetate (Aronow et al.
1990). The affected child was diagnosed with acrodynia and exhibited a rapid heart beat and hypertension.
Chronic-duration occupational exposures, however, have given mixed results regarding effects on blood
pressure and heart rate. Two studies of workers exposed to relatively low levels of mercury (near
0–0.27 mg/m 3 in one study and an average of 0.075 mg/m3 in the other) for an average of greater than 6 or
7 years showed no effects on blood pressure or electrocardiography (Schuckmann 1979; Smith et al. 1970).
In contrast, workers exposed to an estimated 0.03 mg/m3 of mercury vapor (estimate based on blood levels)
for at least 5 years reported an increased incidence of palpitations, and cardiovascular reflex responses were
slightly reduced compared to unexposed matched controls (Piikivi 1989). Also, workers in a thermometer
plant had a high incidence of hypertension (5 of 9 workers) (Vroom and Greer 1972). A morbidity and
mortality study of chloralkali workers showed an increased likelihood of death due to
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